Illam Terra Parens irâ irritata Deorum,
Extremam (ut perhibent) Cæo Enceladoque sororem
Progenuit[1].
As if Fames[2] were the Reliques of Seditions past; But they are no lesse, indeed, the preludes of Seditions to come. Howsoever, he noteth it right, that Seditious Tumults and Seditious Fames differ no more but as Brother and Sister, Masculine and Feminine; Especially, if it come to that, that the best Actions of a State, and the most plausible[3], and which ought to give greatest Contentment, are taken in ill Sense, and traduced: For that shewes the Envy great, as Tacitus saith, Conflata magna Invidia, sen benè seu mallè gesta premunt[4]. Neither doth it follow that because these Fames are a signe of Troubles, that the suppressing of them, with too much Severity, should be a Remedy of Troubles. For the Despising of them, many times, checks them best, and the Going about[5] to stop them doth but make a Wonder Long-lived. Also that kinde of Obedience, which Tacitus speaketh of, is to be held suspected; Erant in officio, sed tamen qui mallent mandata Imperantium interpretari quàm exequi[6]; Disputing, Excusing, Cavilling upon Mandates and Directions, is a kinde of shaking off the yoake and Assay of[7] disobedience ; Especially, if in those disputings, they, which are for[8] the direction, speake fearefully and tenderly[9], And those that are against it, audaciously.
Also, as Macciavel noteth well; when Princes, that ought to be Common Parents[10], make themselves as a Party and leane to a side, it is as a Boat that is overthrowen by uneven weight on the one Side; As was well seen, in
- ↑ Earth, her parent, provoked to anger against the gods, brought her forth, they say, the youngest of the family, sister of Coeus and Enceladus.
- ↑ false rumours
- ↑ deserving of applause, laudable
- ↑ When great unpopularity is once aroused, people find fault with acts whether good or bad.
- ↑ endeavour
- ↑ They were attentive to their duties, yet in such a way as to show that they were disposed to put their own interpretation on their general's orders rather than to carry them out.
- ↑ attempt at
- ↑ in favour of
- ↑ timidly and wealky
- ↑ parents to all
