24 ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



of the waters amongst the meaner, that then they may declare them- 

 selves. The poets feign, that the rest of the gods would have bound 

 Jupiter; which he hearing of, by the counsel of Pallas, sent for 

 ISriareus with his hundred hands to come in to his aid. An emblem, 

 no doubt, to show, how safe it is for monarchs to make sure of the 

 good will of common people. 



To give moderate liberty for griefs and discontentments to evapo 

 rate, so it be without too great insolency or bravery, is a safe way. 

 For he that turncth the humours back, and maketh the wound bleed 

 inwards, endangcreth malign ulcers, and pernicious impostumations. 



The part of Epimethcus might well become Prometheus, in the 

 case of discontentments, for there is not a better provision against 

 them. Epimethcus, when griefs and evils flew abroad, at last shut the 

 lid, and kept Hope in the bottom of the vessel. Certainly the politic 

 and artificial nourishing and entertaining of hopes, and carrying men 

 iVorn hopes to hopes, is one of the best antidotes against the poison of 

 discontentments. And it is a certain sign of a wise government and 

 proceeding, when it can hold men s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by 

 satisfaction : and when it can handle things in such manner, as no 

 evil shall appear so peremptory, but that it hath some outlet of hope; 

 which is the less hard to do, because both particular persons and factions 

 arc apt enough to flatter themselves, or at least to brave that which 

 they believe not. 



Also, the foresight and prevention that there be no likely or fit 

 head, whcrcunto discontented persons may resort, and under whom 

 they may join, is a known but an excellent point of caution. I under 

 stand a fit head to be one that hath greatness and reputation ; that 

 hath confidence with the discontented party, and upon whom they turn 

 their eyes ; and that is thought discontented in his own particular : 

 which kind of persons are cither to be won and reconciled to the state, 

 and that in a fast and true manner ; or to be fronted with some other 

 of the same party that may oppose them, and so divide the reputation. 

 Generally, the dividing and breaking of all factions and combinations 

 that arc adverse to the state, and setting them at distance, or at least 

 distrust amongst themselves, is not one of the worst remedies. For it 

 is a desperate case, if those that hold with the proceedings of the state, 

 be full of discord and faction ; and those that are against it be entire 

 and united. 



I have noted, that some witty and sharp speeches which have fallen 

 from princes, have given fire to seditions. Caesar did himself infinite 

 hurt in that speech ; &quot; Sylla nescivit literas, non potuit dictare :&quot; for it 

 did utterly cut off that hope which men had entertained, that he would 

 at one time or other give over his dictatorship. Galba undid himself 

 by that speech ; &quot;Legi a se militem, non emi : &quot; for it put the soldiers 

 out of the hope of the donative. Probus likewise by that speech, &quot; Si 

 vixero, non opus erit amplius Romano imperio militibus ; &quot; a speech of 

 great despair for the soldiers : and many the like. Surely, princes had 

 need, in tender matters and ticklish times, to beware what they say ; 

 especially in these short speeches, which fly abroad like darts, and are 



