FIRST PRINCIPLE. 



The Politician must have the Shadow of Religion, but the 



Substance hurts. 



There is no superstition in politics more 

 odious, than to stand too much upon niceties 

 and scruples : and therefore Machiavel cut the 

 hair when he advised, not absolutely to disavow 

 conscience, but to manage it with such a pru- 

 dent neglect, as is scarce discernible from a 

 tenderness : not permitting it to be techy and 

 relucting, nor yet prostituting it, unless upon 

 solemn and insuperable occasions. He notes it 

 from Papirius in Livy, who slighted the Pullarii 

 handsomely, and was rewarded ; whereas Ap- 

 pius Pulcher did it grossly, and was punished. 



But because the politician is best able to 

 tell his own documents, you may please to 

 conceive you found these broken discourses in 

 his study : to each of which I shall add an 

 antidote. 



External holiness invites awful regards ; there 

 is no mask that becomes rebellion and innova- 

 tion so well as religion ; nothing that so much 

 conceals deformity, and pretends beauty. 'Tis 



VOL. II. R 



