Governments, as to Private Families. For a Prince's Leaving his Bus'neſs Wholly to his Miniſtcrs without a Strict Eye over them in their Reſpective Offices and Functions, is as Dangerous an Errour in Politiques, as a Maſters Committing All to his Servant is in Oeconomicks. It is Effectually a Tranſlation of the Authority, when a Superior truſts himſelf Implicitly to the Faith, Care, Honeſty and Diſcretion of an Inferior. To ſay nothing of the Temptation to Bribery and Falſe Dealing, when ſo much may be Gotten by’t with ſo Little Hazzard, either of Diſcovery, or Puniſhment. Beſide the Deſperate Inconvenience of Setting up a Wrong Intereſt, by drawing Applications out of the Proper Channel; and Committing the Authority and Duty of the Maſter co the Honeſly and Diſcretion of the Servant. Men will be True to Themſelves how Faithleſs foever to One Another.
Fab. LIV.
A Fox and a Sick Lyon.
A Certain Lyon that had got a Politique Fit of Sickneſs, made it his Obſervation, that of All the Beaſts in the Forreſt, the Fox never came at him: And ſo he wrote him Word how Ill he Was, and how Mighty Glad he ſhould be of his Company, upon the Score of Ancient Friendſhip and Acquaintance. The Fox return’d the Complement with a Thouſand Prayers for his Recovery; but as for Waiting upon him, he deſir'd to be Excusd; For (ſays he) I find the Traces of abundance of Feet Going In to Your Majeſties Palace, and not One that comes Back again.
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
'Tis a Difficult Point to Hit the True Medium, betwixt Truſting too Much, and too Little, for fear of Incurring a Danger on the One Hand, or giving a Scandal on the Other. Complements are only Words of Courſe, and though One External Civility may be Current Payment for Another, yet a Man would be loth to Venture his All upon a Figure of Speech, where the Meaning is ſo Nicely Divided betwixt Jeſt and Earneſt. 'Tis a Baſe Thing to ſuſpect a Fricnd, or an Honeſt Man; Nay 'tis a Baſe Thing to ſuſpect any Man, that but Looks like One; ſoas
