Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/421

 THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE COURTIER " Now as to what you said about liberty, I reply that we ought not to say that true liberty is to live as we like, but to live ac- cording to good laws. Nor is it less natural and useful and necessary to obey than it is to command; and some things are born and thus appointed and ordained by nature to command, as certain others are to obey. True it is that there are two modes of ruling: the one imperious and violent, like that of masters towards their slaves, and in this way the soul commands the body; the other more mild and gentle, like that of good princes by means of laws over their subjects, and in this way the reason commands the appetite: and both of these modes are useful, for the body is by nature created apt for obedience to the soul, and so is appetite for obedience to reason. Moreover there are many men whose actions have to do only with the use of the body; and such as these are as far from virtuous as the soul from the body, and although they are rational creatures, they have only such share of reason as to recognize it but not to possess or profit by it. These, therefore, are naturally slaves, and it is better and more profitable for them to obey than to com- mand." 22.— Thereupon my lord Gaspar said: " In what mode then are the discreet and virtuous, and those who are not by nature slaves, to be ruled? " My lord Ottaviano replied: '• With that gentle rule, kingly and civic. And to such men it is well sometimes to give the charge of those offices for wMch they are fitted, to the end that they too may be able to command and govern those less wise than themselves, but in such manner that the chief rule shall wholly depend upon the suprenie prince. And since you said that it is an easier thing for the mind of one man to be corrupted than for that of many, I ^sa;y that it is also an easier thing to, find one good and wise ip.an than many. And to be good and wise ought to be deemed possible for a king of noble race, inclined to worthiness-by his natural instinct and by the illustrious memory of his, predecessors, and practised in good behaviour; and if he be net of another species more than human (as you said of the bfle*lcing), being aided by the teachings and by the education and skill of so prudent and excellent a 26x