Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/531

 ( mi. riiAKAiTKi; or Ai&amp;lt;. I ST1 s CJESAR. He htood sufficiently upon his state -and great- iii U. For in great battles he would sit ;it home in the head-quarter, and manage all tilings liy me-,- 8agcs, which wrought him ft doable benefit. First, that it secured his person more, ami exposed him the less to danger. Secondly, that if at any time his army was worsted, he could put new spirit into them with his own presence, and the addition of fresh forces, and turn the fortune of tho day. In the conducting of his wars, he would not only follow former precedents, but he was able to de vise and pursue new stratagems, according as the accidents and occasions required. He was constant, and singularly kind, and in dulgent in his friendships contracted. Notwith standing, he made choice of such friends, as a man might easily see, that he chose them rather to be instruments to his ends, than for any good will towards them. And whereas, by nature, and out of a firm resolution, he adhered to this principle; not to be eminent amongst great and deserving men, but to be chief amongst the infe riors and vassals ; he chose only mean and active men, and such as to whom himself might be all in all. And hereupon grew that saying, &quot; So let Cissar live, though I die;&quot; and other speeches of that kind. As for the nobility, and those that were his peers, he contracted friendship with such of them as might be useful to him ; and ad mitted none to his cabinet council, but V hail their fortunes s holly depending upon him. lie vas ineileratcly furnished with good liti ra- ture, and the arts ; but in such sort as he applied his skill therein to civil policy. For ho v. read in history; and was expert in rhetoric, and the art of speaking. And because he attributed much to his good stars, he would pretend more than an ordinary knowledge in astronomy. As for eloquence, and a prompt elocution, that was natural to him and pure. He. was dissolute, and proprnse to voluptuous ness and pleasures; which served well at first for a cover to his ambition. For no man would imagine, that a man so loosely given could har bour any ambitious and vast thoughts in his heart. Notwithstanding, he so governed his pleasures, that they were no hinderance either to his profit or his business; and they did rather whet than dull the vigour of his mind. He was temperate at his meals ; free from niceness and curiosity in his lusts ; pleasant and magnificent at public in terludes. Thus being accomplished, the same thing was the means of his downfall at last, which in his be ginnings was a step to his rise ; I mean, his affec tion of popularity; for nothing is more popular than to forgive our enemies; through which, either virtue or cunning, he lost his life. CIVIL CHARACTER OF AUGUSTUS CJESAR. BY DR. BAWLEY. AUGUSTUS C^SAR, if ever any mortal man, was endued with a greatness of mind, undisturbed with passions, clear and well ordered ; which is evidenced by the high achievements which he per formed in his early youth. For those persons which are of a turbulent nature or appetite, do commonly pass their youth in many errors; and about their middle, and then and not before, they show forth their perfections: but those that are of a sedate and calm nature may be ripe for great and glorious actions in their youth. And whereas the faculties of the mind, no less than the parts and members of the body, do consist and flourish in a good temper of health, and beauty, and strength; so he was in the strength of the mind inferior to his uncle Julius; but the health and beauty of the mind superior. For Julius being of an unquiet and uncomposed spirit, as those who are troubled with the falling sickness for the most part are. Notwithstanding, he carried on I his own ends with much moderation and discre tion; but he did not order his ends well, pro posing to himself vast and high designs above the reach of a mortal man. But Augustus, as a man sober and mindful of his mortality, seemed to propound no other ends to himself than such as were orderly and well-weighed and governed by reason. For first he was desirous indeed to have the rule and principality in his hands: then he sought to appear worthy of that power which he should acquire : next, to enjoy a high place he accounted but a transitory tiling: lastly, he en deavoured to do such actions as might continue his memory and leave an impression of his good government to after ages. And, therefore, in the In irinninir of his av. he affected power; in the middle of his age, honour and dignity ; in the de cline of his years, ease and pleasure; and in the end of his life, he was wholly bent to memory au.1 posterity.