308 Ofthevanitie ofPrincesfaxour.r. yet hazardedthe Joffe ofhis eReeme,and incurredhis indig_ nation,rather then he wouldnegle&his dutie,in admoni(h_ ingand reprouing him for hisfinne. $.See7.I2. Which examples that we may imitate, andmay learne to Oftbeincoa, loathe thisfweetne(fe ofworldly fauour, when the poyfon pantie and mu- of linne is mixed with it, let vs confider that it is not onel tabili:ieofcbe j, vaine ndvn rofitablebutalfodangerous andhurtfull.The fPrin- P ces, vanitiechiefly appeareth in the vnconflancie and mutabili- tieofit,and that both in refpe&ofthe fauour it Pelf, and the perlons fauouring.For theformer,who knoweth not,that it is vfuall in the Courtsofgreat Princes, tobee one day infa- uour, and the next in heauie difpleafure; now graced with thechicle honours ()fa kingdome,and Toone after difgraced and vtcerly negleEled? An example whereofwe haue in Ha- man,who being the Kings chiefe favourite, ruled all at his owne pleafure ; and thenext day followingwas hangedvp- on the gallowes which himfelfe had made for Laterdecay. The which alteration oftenhapneth, for a fmall caufe, often vponan apparance and furmize only ; and notfeldome vpon meere phantafie and will, that theymay pleafe themfelues with varietieof new fauourites; for as they oftentimes ad- stance them highly into their loue without any defers,vpon conceit and opinion only,fothis varying,their loue alto va- rieth, fometimes turning to acold negleei, and fometimes into mortall hatred. Inwhich refpc& Princes favouritesare fitly compared to counters vied for computation andcalling accounts; which being all in themfeluesoflike valuc,haue, according as it pleafeth the accountant to place them, a Oronres Apo- farre differing enimate, Come Handing for thoufands, ionic thcc.apud!'luu- for hundreds and fomefor vnites ; yea and thofe whichnow Y hauethe place ofthe greaten femme, doe by and by Rand for the leafl,and thofe which were oflean eflimace,are foots after taken for the greaten number. And in the fame regard Princes fauours are likened veto a tender eye, which the lean moate failing into, cauleth to water,and fotnctimes is offendedwith a blafl of winde: for fo the fmallen trifle of- ten changeth their affcelion, and fometimes meere winde of words, the rumours and tales ofbackbiters and fyco- phants,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=