OF TRUE GREATNESS OF KINGDOMS 71 



XXIX 



OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF KINGDOMS 

 AND ESTATES 



THE speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was 

 haughty and arrogant in taking so much to himself, had 

 been a grave and wise observation and censure, applied at 

 large to others. Desired at a feast to touch a lute, he said, 

 ' He could not riddle, but yet he could make a small town 

 a great city/ These words (holpen a little with a 

 metaphor) may express two differing abilities in those that 

 deal in business of estate. For if a true survey be taken 

 of counsellors and statesmen, there may be found (though 

 rarely) those which can make a small state great, and yet 

 cannot fiddle : as on the other side, there will be found a 

 great many that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so 

 far from being able to make a small state great, as their 

 gift lieth the other way ; to bring a great and flourishing 

 estate to ruin and decay. And, certainly those degenerate 

 arts and shifts, whereby many counsellors and governors 

 gain both favour with their masters and estimation with the 

 vulgar, deserve no better name than fiddling ; being things 

 rather pleasing for the time, and graceful to themselves 

 only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the 

 state which they serve. There are also (no doubt) 

 counsellors and governors which may be held sufficient 

 (negotiis pares}, able to manage affairs, and to keep them 

 from precipices and manifest inconveniences ; which never- 

 theless are far from the ability to raise and amplify an 

 estate in power, means, and fortune. But be the work- 

 men what they may be, let us speak of the work ; that is, 

 the true Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates, and the 

 means thereof. An argument fit for great and mighty 

 princes to have in their hand ; to the end that neither by 

 over-measuring their forces, they leese themselves in vain 

 enterprises ; nor on the other side, by undervaluing them, 

 they descend to fearful and pusillanimous counsels. 





