FSSA YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 61 



the way of pleasuring and displeasuring lieth by the favourite, it is 

 impossible any other should be over-great. Another means to curb 

 them, is to balance them by others 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. As 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 interchange 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 

 dependencies. He that seekcth 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 

 aspircth, is an honest man: and that prince that can discern of these 

 intentions in another that aspircth, is a wise prince. Generally let 

 princes and states choose such ministers as arc 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 observa 

 tions. But yet, since princes will have such things, it is better they 

 should be graced with elegancy, than daubed with cost. Dancing to 

 song, is a thing of great state and pleasure. I understand it, that the 

 song be in quire, placed aloft, and accompanied with some broken 

 music : and the ditty fitted to the device. Acting in song, especially 

 in dialogues, hath an extreme good grace ; I say acting, not dancing, 

 (for that is a mean and vulgar thing,) and the voices of the dialogue 

 should be strong and manly, a base, and a tenor ; no treble, and the 

 ditty high and tragical ; not nice or dainty. Several quires placed one 

 ovcr-against another, and taking the voice by catches, antho.iwise, 

 give great pleasure. Turning dances into figure, is a childish curiosity. 

 And generally let it be noted, that those things which I here set down, 

 are such as do naturally take the sense, and not respect petty wonder 

 ments. It is true, the alterations of scenes, so it l&amp;gt;c quietly and without 

 noise, are things of great beauty and pleasure; for they feed and relieve 

 the eye before it be full of the same object. Let the scenes abound 

 with light, specially coloured and varied : and let the maskers, or any 



