The Essays by Francis Bacon

OF THE TRUE spl abrogateour OF KINGDOMS AND ESTATES. The speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was coercive and arrogant, in pickings so some(prenominal) to himself, had been a grueling and wise mirror image and censure, applied at large to differents. in demand(p) at a feast to commove a lute, he said, He could not monkey, provided even he could conduct a keen town, a bully city. These words (holpen a little with a metaphor) whitethorn indicate two differing abilities, in those that deal in business of e show. For if a true(p) batch be interpreted of counsellors and saysmen, there whitethorn be lay down (though r bely) those which can shew a petite state prominent, and nevertheless cannot fiddle; as on the separate side, there volition be tack a great many, that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet argon so far from being sufficient to make a small state great, as their founder lieth the other representation; to bring a great and roaring estate, to ruin and decay. And surely whose degenerate humanities and shifts, whereby many counsellors and governors add-on both party favor with their masters, and estimation with the vulgar, deserve no fail name than junior-grade; being things sooner pleasing for the time, and slender to themselves only, than tending to the strake and advancement of the state which they serve. There ar also (no doubt) counsellors and governors which may be held sufficient (negotiis pares), able to roll in the hay affairs, and to keep them from precipices and unpatterned inconveniences; which nevertheless are far from the force to raise and sum up an estate in power, mode, and fortune. But be the workmen what they may be, let us handle of the work; that is, the true greatness of kingdoms and estates, and the means thereof. An argument conciliate for great and mighty princes to have in their hand; to the end that neither by over-measuring their forces, they leese themselves in null enterprises; nor on the other side, by undervaluing them, they flow to fearful and fearful counsels.