THE SECOND BOOK 175 



well disposed in the spirits thereof, being agreeable to 

 truth and apt for action ; and far removed from that 

 natural infirmity, whereunto I noted those that write 

 in their own professions to be subject, which is, that 

 they exalt it above measure. For your Majesty hath 

 truly described, not a king of Assyria or Persia in their 

 extern glory, but a Moses or a David, pastors of their 

 people. Neither can I ever leese out of my remem- 

 brance what I heard your Majesty in the same sacred 

 spirit of government deliver in a great cause of judi- 

 cature, which was, ' That kings ruled by their laws, 

 as God did by the laws of nature ; and ought as rarely 

 to put in use their supreme prerogative, as God doth 

 his power of working miracles.' And yet notwith- 

 standing, in your book of a free monarchy, you do well 

 give men to understand, that you know the plenitude 

 of the power and right of a king, as well as the circle 

 of his office and duty. Thus have I presumed to allege 

 this excellent writing of your Majesty, as a prime or 

 eminent example of tractates concerning special and 

 respective duties : wherein I should have said as much, 

 if it had been written a thousand years since. Neither 

 am I moved with certain courtly decencies, which esteem 

 it flattery to praise in presence. No, it is flattery to 

 praise in absence ; that is, when either the virtue is 

 absent, or the occasion is absent ; and so the praise 

 is not natural, but forced, either in truth or in time. 

 But let Cicero be read in his oration pro Marcdlo, which 

 is nothing but an excellent table of Caesar's virtue, and 

 made to his face ; besides the example of many other 

 excellent persons, wiser a great deal than such observers ; 

 and we will never doubt, upon a full occasion, to give 

 just praises to present or absent. 



9. But to return : there belongeth further to the 

 handling of this part, touching the duties of professions 

 and vocations, a relative or opposite, touching the 

 frauds, cautels, impostures, and vices of every pro- 

 fession, which hath been likewise handled : but how ? 

 rather in a satire and cynically, than seriously and 

 wisely : for men have rather sought by wit to deride 



