life； restored to thee all thy goods； and； finally； put thee in so good a
posture； by my bounty； of living well and at thy ease； that the
victorious envied the conquered。 The sacerdotal office which thou madest
suit to me for； I conferred upon thee； after having denied it to others；
whose fathers have ever borne arms in my service。 After so many
obligations； thou hast undertaken to kill me。〃 At which Cinna crying out
that he was very far from entertaining any so wicked a thought： 〃Thou
dost not keep thy promise； Cinna；〃 continued Augustus； 〃that thou wouldst
not interrupt me。 Yes； thou hast undertaken to murder me in such a
place； on such a day； in such and such company； and in such a manner。〃
At which words； seeing Cinna astounded and silent； not upon the account
of his promise so to be； but interdict with the weight of his conscience：
〃Why；〃 proceeded Augustus； 〃to what end wouldst thou do it？ Is it to be
emperor？ Believe me； the Republic is in very ill condition； if I am the
only man betwixt thee and the empire。 Thou art not able so much as to
defend thy own house； and but t'other day was baffled in a suit； by the
opposed interest of a mere manumitted slave。 What； hast thou neither
means nor power in any other thing； but only to undertake Caesar？ I quit
the throne； if there be no other than I to obstruct thy hopes。 Canst
thou believe that Paulus； that Fabius； that the Cossii and the Servilii；
and so many noble Romans； not only so in title； but who by their virtue
honour their nobility； would suffer or endure thee？〃 After this； and a
great deal more that he said to him （for he was two long hours in
speaking）； 〃Now go； Cinna； go thy way： I give thee that life as traitor
and parricide； which I before gave thee in the quality of an enemy。 Let
friendship from this time forward begin betwixt us； and let us show
whether I have given； or thou hast received thy life with the better
faith〃； and so departed from him。 Some time after； he preferred him to
the consular dignity； complaining that he had not the confidence to
demand it； had him ever after for his very great friend； and was； at
last； made by him sole heir to all his estate。 Now； from the time of
this accident which befell Augustus in the fortieth year of his age； he
never had any conspiracy or attempt against him； and so reaped the due
reward of this his so generous clemency。 But it did not so happen with
our prince； his moderation and mercy not so securing him； but that he
afterwards fell into the toils of the like treason；＇The Duc de Guise
was assassinated in 1563 by Poltrot。＇so vain and futile a thing is
human prudence； throughout all our projects； counsels and precautions；
Fortune will still be mistress of events。
We repute physicians fortunate when they hit upon a lucky cure； as if
there was no other art but theirs that could not stand upon its own legs；
and whose foundations are too weak to support itself upon its own basis；
as if no other art stood in need of Fortune's hand to help it。 For my
part； I think of physic as much good or ill as any one would have me：
for； thanks be to God； we have no traffic together。 I am of a quite
contrary humour to other men； for I always despise it； but when I am
sick； instead of recanting； or entering into composition with it； I
begin； moreover； to hate and fear it； telling them who importune me to
take physic； that at all events they must give me time to recover my
strength and health； that I may be the better able to support and
encounter the violence and danger of their potions。 I let nature work；
supposing her to be sufficiently armed with teeth and claws to defend
herself from the assaults of infirmity； and to uphold that contexture；
the dissolution of which she flies and abhors。 I am afraid； lest；
instead of assisting her when close grappled and struggling with disease；
I should assist her adversary； and burden her still more with work to do。
Now； I say； that not in physic only； but in other more certain arts；
fortune has a very great part。
The poetic raptures； the flights of fancy； that ravish and transport the
author out of himself； why should we not attribute them to his good
fortune； since he himself confesses that they exceed his sufficiency and
force； and acknowledges them to proceed from something else than himself；
and that he has them no more in his power than the orators say they have
those extraordinary motions and agitations that sometimes push them
beyond their design。 It is the same in painting； where touches shall
sometimes slip from the hand of the painter； so surpassing both his
conception and his art； as to beget his own admiration and astonishment。
But Fortune does yet more evidently manifest the share she has in all
things of this kind； by the graces and elegances we find in them； not
only beyond the intention； but even without the knowledge of the workman：
a competent reader often discovers in other men's writings other
perfections than the author himself either intended or perceived； a
richer sense and more quaint expression。
As to military enterprises； every one sees how great a hand Fortune has
in them。 Even in our counsels and deliberations there must； certainly；
be something of chance and good…luck mixed with human prudence； for all
that our wisdom can do alone is no great matter； the more piercing；
quick； and apprehensive it is； the weaker it finds itself； and is by so
much more apt to mistrust itself。 I am of Sylla's opinion； ＇〃Who freed
his great deeds from envy by ever attributing them to his good fortune；
and finally by surnaming himself Faustus； the Lucky。Plutarch； How far a
Man may praise Himself； c。 9。＇ and when I closely examine the most
glorious exploits of war； I perceive； methinks； that those who carry them
on make use of counsel and debate only for custom's sake； and leave the
best part of the enterprise to Fortune； and relying upon her aid；
transgress； at every turn； the bounds of military conduct and the rules
of war。 There happen； sometimes； fortuitous alacrities and strange
furies in their deliberations； that for the most part prompt them to
follow the worst grounded counsels； and swell their courage beyond the
limits of reason。 Whence it happened that several of the great captains
of old； to justify those rash resolutions； have been fain to tell their
soldiers that they were invited to such attempts by some inspiration；
some sign and prognostic。
Wherefore； in this doubt and uncertainty； that the shortsightedness of
human wisdom to see and choose the best （by reason of the difficulties
that the various accidents and circumstances of things bring along with
them） perplexes us withal； the surest way； in my opinion； did no other
consideration invite us to it； is to pitch upon that wherein is the
greatest appearance of honesty and justice； and not； being certain of the
shortest； to keep the straightest and most direct way； as in the two
examples I have just given； there is no question but it was more noble
and generous in him who had received the offence； to pardon it； than to
do otherwise。 If the former ＇The Duc de Guise。＇ miscarried in it； he
is not； nevertheless； to be blamed for his good intention； neither does
any one know if he had proceeded otherwise； whether by that means he had
avoided the end his destiny had appointed for him； and he had； moreover；
lost the glory of so humane an act。
You will read in history； of many who have been in such apprehension；
that the most part have taken the course to meet and anticipate
conspiracies against them by punishment and revenge； but I find very few
who have reaped any advantage by this proceeding； witness so many Roman
emperors。 Whoever finds himself in this danger； ought not to expect much
either from his vigilance or power； for how hard a thing is it for a man
to secure himself from an enemy； who lies concealed under the countenance
of the most assiduous friend we have； and to discover and know the wills
and inward thoughts of those who are in our personal service。 'Tis to
much purpose to have a guard of foreigners about one； and to be always
fenced about with a pale of armed men； whosoever despises his own life；
is always master of that of another man。＇Seneca； Ep。； 4。＇ And
moreover； this continual suspicion； that makes a prince jealous of all
the world； must of necessity be a strange torment to him。 Therefore it
was； that Dion； being advertised that Callippus watched all opportunities
to take away his life； had never the heart to inquire more particularly
into it； saying； that he had rather die than live in that misery； that he
must continually stand upon his guard； not only against his enemies； but
his friends also；＇Plutarch； Apothegms。＇ which Alexander much more
vividly and more roundly manifested in effect； when； having notice by a
letter from Parmenio； that Philip； his most beloved physician； was by
Darius' money corrupted to poison him； at the same time he gave the
letter to Philip to read； drank off the potion he had brought him。 Was
not this to express a resolution； that if his friends had a mind to
despatch him out of the world； he was willing to give them opportunity to
do it？ This prince is； indeed； the sovereign pattern of hazardous
actions； but I do not know whether there be another passage in his life
wherein there is so much firm courage as in this； nor so illustrious an
image of the beauty and greatness of his mind。
Those who preach to princes so circumspect and vigilant a jealousy and
distrust； under colour of security； preach to them ruin and dishonour：
nothing noble can be performed without danger。 I know a person；
naturally of a very great daring and enterprising courage； whose good
fortune is continually marred by such persuasions； that he keep himself
close surrounded by his friends； that he must not hearken to any
reconciliation with his ancient enemies； that he must stand aloof； and
not trust his person in hands stronger than his own； what promises or
offers soever they may make him； or what advantages soever he may see
before him。 And I know another； who has unexpectedly advanced his
fortunes by following a clear contrary advice。
Courage； t