VECA'D./11. A ~~~iiiiii~~·iiiiiliti~i~i~~~Wit!tiiiltilii EIElri!B:iilUI~!ntltliJ~~~'<i ~s:BlN!Iiii To the Gentlemen ofhis HighndfeCourt. EP. X. .d dtforiptiDn •f • gODd andfaithfoO CDurti<r. VVHilcs I adventured other Cbaqctcrs into the light, I r&rvcd one for you; whom I3Ccountno fmall part of my joy; The Character ofwh., yM are,of.,hat y••fb••ld ht: Northat,Iarrogate to my fclfe, more then ordinaryskill in rhefe high points: I ddirenot to defcribea Courtier; How lhould I, chat have but feene~nd faluted the feat of Princes~ Or why lhould I,whofe thoughts B are fequdlred rothe Courtofheaven~But ifl would decypher a. good Courtier;who can herein conrroll my cndcvour ~ Goodndfe in all formes is bur the juft fubjcet of ourprofeflion :what myobfcrvationcould not, 110 leffecertaine rule lhall afford me. Our difcourfe bath this freedom<, rbat it may reach beyond our eyes with bdeefe. If yourexperience agree not with my {peculation, diftruft me. I care nor for their barking, which condcmne ~nc,at firft, ofincongruity:as ifrhcfc rworcarmcs were {o di!fonanc, thatone fenrcncc c011ld not hold them. The Poetsfiandcrs, that abandons all good men from Courts, Whoknowes northatthev£gJ!tia~ Court had a M•(is; the CourrofS•maria,an·ObadMh;ofUru(Altm an Ebtd-meltth;ofDa,a{<tts aN ••man; ofBa~yl•n aD•nitl; of v£thi•pia il good Trtafurtr; :and very Ntro's Court in P't1k time,his Sai~ts? That I may nottell,how the Courts ofChriftian Princes have been c likened by our ccclefiafticall Hiftorians, to fome royal! Colleges fortheir o;der, gra. viry, goodne!fe mixed with theirMajefty;and that I may willingly forbear< to compare (as, butfor envy,I durft) yours wirhrheirs11fpeake boldly, the Court is as nigh tohcavcnasthe Cell, anddot.hno lclfe require and admirftrictholineffe. I banilh therefore hence allimpiery,and dareprefage his ruine, whofe foundation is nor laid in goodnelfe. Our Courtier is no other then vertuoos, and (erves the God ofheaven as his lirftMaker, and from him derives his dury ·ro thcfe earrhen gods; as one char knowes the thrones o( heaven and earth are nor contrary, bur fubordinarc, and char beftobcdience fprings from devotion: hisability and will have both confpired eo make him perfetlly ferviccable, and his diligence waits bur for an opportunity. In the fadjons of fome great rivals of honour , he holds himfdfc in a fi·ee lieu- D rraliry, accounting it fafer in unjuft frayes to looke on, then to llrike; and ifncceffiry ofoccafion will needs winde him into the quarrel!, he chufes not the ftronger pm, bur the better; refolving rather to fall with innocence and truth, then ro ftand with powerful! injuflice. In the changes offavours and lrownes hechangerh nor; his fincere honcfty bearcs him thorowall alt<rarions, with wife boldnelfe, ifnot with fucceffe: and when he fpicsclouds in the eyes ofhis Priace, (which oflong he will nor feeme to f~e) his cleere hearrgives him a cleere face1 and ifhe may be admitted, his loyall breath lhall foone difpell thofe vapors ofill fuggelHon:but ifafter all attempts' of wind and Sun he fee them fetled, and the might ofhis accufcrs will nor let him feeme as he is; he gives way in filence, without ftomach,and waires upon rime. He is notover-haflilyintent npon his owne promotion ; as one that fee!tes his Prince, not E himfclfe; and ftudies more to deferve then rife, fcorning drher to grow great by his owne bribes, or rich by the bribes of others~ His officious filcnce craves more then others words; and ifchar language be not heard , nor undcrftood, he opens his mouth, yet late and fparingly ; without balhfulneffe, without importunity 1 caring onelyro motion, not caringto plead. He is affable and courteous 1 nor vainly popular, abafing his Princes favour to \VOoerhe wonhlcffe "1'Piaufeofrhe vulgar; approving by his actions that he feekcs one, nor many; if nor rather one in many. His Alphabet is his Princes difpofirion; which once learned, he plies withdiligent fervice, nor with flattery; nor commending every action as!(ood, nor rhebcftroo much, and in prefence. When he finds an apparent growth offavour, bee dares nor glory in it to others, !ell he fhould folicite their envy, and hazard rhdhame ofhis owne
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=