102 The Admirable Crichton. 



citizens of such states as Genoa had the satisfaction of con- 

 templating their own immunity from the perils and disasters of 

 their less fortunate neighbours, who were the victims of error and 

 the warfare of chaotic elements. Here there is, probably, a 

 reference to the famous passage of Lucretius, to which Francis 

 Bacon has given an abiding vogue and immortality. 



Leaving generalities, Crichton proceeds to particularise the 

 then Duke and Prince as the most gracious and most prudent 

 in the conduct of affairs who had ever lived. The orator 

 emphasises such a declaration of the Prince's unique glory by a 

 reference to the reforms which — adopting them from the practice 

 of the State of Siena — he instituted in the electoral proceed- 

 ings for the creation or promotion of magistrates. Indeed, had 

 not the prince upon a recent occasion rescued and restored to 

 security " his own Genoa ' ' from the destructive effects of 

 .sedition and civil revolt ? 



Crichton then celebrates the glory of the group of magis- 

 trates who had been instrumental in the recuperation of the 

 Republic. With a manifest allusion to a New Testament 

 parable, he likens the grief of the citizens at the retirement of 

 these magistrates to the delirous affliction of a young girl at the 

 loss of a gold ring, and her rapid recovery to more than exulta- 

 tion when she has found it. It is to the latter state of mind 

 that the Republic returns with the election of a batch of magis- 

 trates whose accession to office is the theme of the well-nigh 

 inordinate admiration of his discourse. So glorious and so 

 effective a succession finds an analogy in Virgil's fable of the 

 Golden Tree, which at once puts forth a precious branch 

 whenever any spoiler has rudely plucked what had seemed to be 

 an irreplacable treasure. Crichton proceeds to deprecate any 

 imitation of the generous but evil and mischievous precedent set 

 by the Athenians of obliterating the memory of former troubles 

 and turbulence, and of exaggerating the forgiveness of past 

 offences in any unruly section of the people into forgetfulness. 

 Instead of permitting such a principle to guide them, thei 

 Genoese are warned to take precautions for the future from the 

 past in the knowledge that, whether for good or evil, whatever 

 has once occurred may under similar conditions occur again. 



Finally, the orator reveals a glorious vision of the expansion 



