94 BACON'S ESSAYS 



as proud as they. But then there must be some middle 

 counsellors, to keep things steady ; for without that ballast 

 the ship will roll too much. At the least, a prince may 

 animate and inure some meaner persons, to be as it were 

 scourges to ambitious men. And for the having of them 

 obnoxious to ruin : if they be of fearful natures, it may do 

 well ; but if they be stout and daring, it may precipitate 

 their designs, and prove dangerous. As for the pulling of 

 them down, if the affairs require it, and that it may not 

 be done with safety suddenly, the only way is, the inter- 

 change continually of favours and disgraces ; whereby they 

 may not know what to expect, and be as it were in a 

 wood. 



Of ambitions, it is less harmful, the ambition to prevail 

 in great things, than that other to appear in every thing ; 

 for that breeds confusion, and mars business. But yet it 

 is less danger to have an ambitious man stirring in 

 business, than great in dependances. He that seeketh to 

 be eminent amongst able men hath a great task ; but that 

 is ever good for the public. But he that plots to be the 

 only figure amongst ciphers is the decay of a whole age. 

 Honour hath three things in it ; the vantage ground to do 

 good ; the approach to kings and principal persons ; and 

 the raising of a man's own fortunes. He that hath the 

 best of these intentions, when he aspireth, is an honest 

 man ; and that prince that can discern of these intentions 

 in another that aspireth, is a wise prince. Generally, let 

 princes and states choose such ministers as are more sensible 

 of duty than of rising ; and such as love business rather 

 upon conscience than upon bravery ; and let them discern 

 a busy nature from a willing mind. 



XXXVII 

 OF MASQUES AND TRIUMPHS 



THESE things are but toys, to come amongst such serious 

 observations. But yet, since princes will have such things. 



