Page:Gondibert, an heroick poem - William Davenant (1651).djvu/50

 valiant prey) shrink back till the danger be subdu'd, and then with insatiate hunger come in for a share: Yet sometimes with the Eye of Envie (which enlarges objects like a multiplying glass) they behold these States-men, and think them immense as Whales; the motion of whose vast bodies can in a peacefull calm trouble the Ocean till it boyl; After a little hastie wonder, they consider them again with disdain of their low constraints at Court; where they must patiently endure the little follies of such small Favourites as wait even near the wisest Thrones; so fantastically weak seem Monarchs in the sickness of Care (a feaver in the head) when for the humorous pleasure of Diversitie, they descend from purple Beds, and seek their ease upon the ground. These great Leaders say also, that Law moves slowly as with fetter'd feet, and is too tedious in redress of wrongs; whilst in Armies Justice seems to ride post, and overtakes Offenders ere the contagion of crimes can infect others: and though in Courts and Cities great men fence often with her, and with a forcive sleight put by her sword; yet when she retires to Camps, she is in a posture not onely to punish the offences of particular Greatness, but of injurious Nations.

States-men look on Divines as men whose long solitude and Meditations on Heaven hath made them Strangers upon Earth: and 'tis acquaintance with the World, and knowledge of Man that makes abilities of Ruling: for though it may be said that a sufficient belief of Doctrine would beget Obedience (which is the uttermost design of Governing) yet since diversitie of Doctrine doth distract all Auditors, and makes them doubtfully dispose their obedience (even towards spiritual powers, on which many would have the temporal depend) therefore States-men think themselves more fit to manage Empire, than Divines; whose usefulness consists in perswasion; and perswasion is the last medicine (being the most desperate) which States-men apply to the distemper of the People: for their distemper is madness, and madness is best cur'd with ter-