IAQVES Amiot, grand Aumosnier de France, me recita vn iour cette histoire à l’honneur d’vn Prince des nostres (et nostre estoit-il à tres-bonnes enseignes, encore que son origine fust estrangere) que durant nos premiers troubles au siege de Roüan, ce Prince ayant esté aduerti par la Royne mere du Roy d’vne entreprise qu’on faisoit sur sa vie, et instruit particulierement par ses lettres, de celuy qui la deuoit conduire à chef, qui estoit vn Gentil-homme Angeuin ou Manceau, frequentant lors ordinairement pour cet effet, la maison de ce Prince: il ne communiqua à personne cet aduertissement: mais se promenant l’endemain au mont saincte Catherine, d’où se faisoit nostre baterie à Rouan (car c’estoit au temps que nous la tenions assiegee) ayant à ses costez ledit Seigneur grand Aumosnier et vn autre Euesque, il apperçeut ce Gentil-homme, qui luy auoit esté remarqué, et le fit appeller.
Jacques Amyot, Grand Almoner of France, once told me this story to the honor of one of our princes (and ours he was, on very good grounds, even though his family came from abroad). During our first troubles, at the siege of Rouen, this prince was warned by the Queen Mother of a plot against his life. Her letters told him in detail who was to carry it out: a gentleman from Anjou or Maine, who at that time regularly frequented the prince’s household for that very purpose. He told no one of this warning. But the next day, while walking on Mont Sainte-Catherine, from which our guns were firing on Rouen (for this was when we were besieging it), with the said Lord Grand Almoner and another bishop at his side, he caught sight of this gentleman, who had been pointed out to him, and had him called over.
Comme il fut en sa presence, il luy dit ainsi le voyant desia pallir et fremir des alarmes de sa conscience: Monsieur de tel lieu, vous vous doutez bien de ce que ie vous veux, et vostre visage le montre: vous n’auez rien à me cacher: car ie suis instruict de vostre affaire si auant, que vous ne feriez qu’empirer vostre marché, d’essayer à le couurir. Vous sçauez bien telle chose et telle (qui estoyent les tenans et aboutissans des plus secretes pieces de cette menee) ne faillez sur vostre vie à me confesser la verité de tout ce dessein.
When the man came before him, the prince saw him already turning pale and trembling at the alarms of his conscience, and spoke to him thus: “Monsieur de So-and-so, you can well guess what I want with you, and your face shows it. You have nothing to hide from me. I am so fully informed of your business that you would only make your position worse by trying to cover it up. You know very well such and such a thing” (these were the ins and outs of the most secret parts of the plot), “so do not fail, on your life, to confess to me the whole truth of this scheme.”
Quand ce pauure homme se trouua pris et conuaincu, car le tout auoit esté descouuert à la Royne par l’vn des complices, il n’eut qu’à ioindre les mains et requerir la grace et misericorde de ce Prince; aux pieds duquel il se voulut ietter, mais il l’en garda, suyuant ainsi son propos: Venez çà, vous ay-ie autre-fois fait desplaisir? ay-ie offencé quelqu’vn des vostres par haine particuliere? Il n’y a pas trois semaines que ie vous cognois, quelle raison vous a peu mouuoir à entreprendre ma mort?
When this poor man found himself caught and convicted (for the whole thing had been revealed to the Queen by one of the accomplices), there was nothing left for him but to clasp his hands and beg the prince’s pardon and mercy. He tried to throw himself at the prince’s feet, but the prince prevented him and went on: “Come here. Have I ever done you any harm? Have I offended anyone of your family out of private hatred? I have not known you three weeks. What reason could have moved you to undertake my death?”
Le Gentil-homme respondit à cela d’vne voix tremblante, que ce n’estoit aucune occasion particuliere qu’il en eust, mais l’interest de la cause generale de son party, et qu’aucuns luy auoient persuadé que ce seroit vne execution pleine de pieté, d’extirper en quelque maniere que ce fust, vn si puissant ennemy de leur religion. Or, suiuit ce Prince, ie vous veux montrer, combien la religion que ie tiens est plus douce, que celle dequoy vous faictes profession. La vostre vous a conseillé de me tuer sans m’ouir, n’ayant receu de moy aucune offence; et la mienne me commande que ie vous pardonne, tout conuaincu que vous estes de m’auoir voulu tuer sans raison.
The gentleman answered in a trembling voice that he had no private reason of his own. He had acted for the general cause of his party, and certain people had persuaded him that it would be a deed full of piety to root out, by whatever means, so powerful an enemy of their religion. “Well,” the prince went on, “I want to show you how much gentler the religion I hold is than the one you profess. Yours has counseled you to kill me without hearing me, though you had received no offense from me. Mine commands me to pardon you, convicted as you are of having tried to kill me without reason.
Allez vous en, retirez vous, que ie ne vous voye plus icy: et si vous estes sage, prenez doresnauant en voz entreprises des conseillers plus gens de bien que ceux là.
Go away, get out, and let me not see you here again. And if you are wise, from now on take advisers in your undertakings who are better men than those.”
Augustus and Cinna
Augustus pardons the conspirator Cinna on Livia’s advice and is never plotted against again.
L’empereur Auguste estant en la Gaule, reçeut certain auertissement d’vne coniuration que luy brassoit L. Cinna: il delibera de s’en venger, et manda pour cet effect au lendemain le conseil de ses amis: mais la nuict d’entre-deux il la passa auec grande inquietude, considerant qu’il auoit à faire mourir un ieune homme de bonne maison, et neueu du grand Pompeius: et produisoit en se pleignant plusieurs diuers discours. Quoy donq, faisoit-il, sera-il dict que ie demeureray en crainte et en alarme, et que ie lairray mon meurtrier se pourmener cependant à son ayse? S’en ira-il quitte, ayant assailly ma teste, que i’ay sauuée de tant de guerres ciuiles, de tant de batailles, par mer et par terre?
The Emperor Augustus, while he was in Gaul, received definite warning of a conspiracy that Lucius Cinna was hatching against him. He resolved to take revenge, and for that purpose summoned a council of his friends for the next day. But he spent the night in between in great anxiety, considering that he would have to put to death a young man of good family, a nephew of the great Pompey. And in his lamenting he turned over many different arguments. “What then,” he said, “shall it be said that I am to remain in fear and alarm, and let my murderer stroll about meanwhile at his ease? Shall he go scot-free, after striking at this head of mine, which I have brought safe through so many civil wars, so many battles on sea and land?
et apres auoir estably la paix vniuerselle du monde, sera-il absouz, ayant deliberé non de me meurtrir seulement, mais de me sacrifier? Car la coniuration estoit faicte de le tuer, comme il feroit quelque sacrifice. Apres cela s’estant tenu coy quelque espace de temps, il recommençoit d’vne voix plus forte, et s’en prenoit à soy-mesme: Pourquoy vis tu, s’il importe à tant de gens que tu meures? n’y aura-il point de fin à tes vengeances et à tes cruautez? Ta vie vaut-elle que tant de dommage se face pour la conseruer? Liuia sa femme le sentant en ces angoisses: Et les conseils des femmes y seront-ils receuz, luy dit elle?
And after I have established universal peace in the world, shall he be acquitted, having planned not merely to murder me but to sacrifice me?” For the conspirators had planned to kill him while he was performing a sacrifice. After that he kept quiet for some time, then began again in a louder voice and turned on himself: “Why do you live, if it matters to so many people that you should die? Will there be no end to your acts of vengeance and your cruelties? Is your life worth so much damage being done to preserve it?” His wife Livia, sensing his anguish, spoke to him: “And will a woman’s advice be heard in this?” she said.
Fais ce que font les medecins, quand les receptes accoustumees ne peuuent seruir, ils en essayent de contraires. Par seuerité tu n’as iusques à cette heure rien profité: Lepidus a suiuy Sauidienus, Murena Lepidus, Cæpio Murena, Egnatius Cæpio. Commence à experimenter comment te succederont la douceur et la clemence. Cinna est conuaincu, pardonne luy; de te nuire desormais, il ne pourra, et profitera à ta gloire. Auguste fut bien ayse d’auoir trouué vn aduocat de son humeur, et ayant remercié sa femme et contremandé ses amis, qu’il auoit assignez au Conseil, commanda qu’on fist venir à luy Cinna tout seul.
“Do what doctors do: when the usual remedies are of no use, they try the opposite ones. Up to now you have gained nothing by severity. Lepidus has followed Salvidienus, Murena Lepidus, Caepio Murena, Egnatius Caepio. Begin to test how gentleness and clemency will turn out for you. Cinna is convicted: pardon him. He will no longer be able to harm you, and he will add to your glory.” Augustus was very glad to have found an advocate who shared his temperament. He thanked his wife, called off the friends he had summoned to the council, and ordered Cinna to be brought to him alone.
Et ayant fait sortir tout le monde de sa chambre, et fait donner vn siege à Cinna, il luy parla en cette maniere: En premier lieu ie te demande Cinna, paisible audience: n’interromps pas mon parler, ie te donray temps et loysir d’y respondre.
He sent everyone out of his room, had a seat given to Cinna, and spoke to him in this way: “First of all, Cinna, I ask you for a quiet hearing. Do not interrupt me; I will give you time and leisure to answer.
Tu sçais Cinna que t’ayant pris au camp de mes ennemis, non seulement t’estant faict mon ennemy, mais estant né tel, ie te sauuay; ie te mis entre mains tous tes biens, et t’ay en fin rendu si accommodé et si aysé, que les victorieux sont enuieux de la condition du vaincu: l’office du sacerdoce que tu me demandas, ie te l’ottroiay, l’ayant refusé à d’autres, desquels les peres auoyent tousiours combatu auec moy: t’ayant si fort obligé, tu as entrepris de me tuer.
You know, Cinna, that when I took you in the camp of my enemies, when you had not merely become my enemy but were born one, I saved you. I put all your property back into your hands, and in the end I have made you so well off and so comfortable that the victors envy the lot of the vanquished. You asked me for the office of priest, and I granted it to you, after refusing it to others whose fathers had always fought on my side. After I had put you so deeply in my debt, you have undertaken to kill me.”
A quoy Cinna s’estant escrié qu’il estoit bien esloigné d’vne si meschante pensee: Tu ne me tiens pas Cinna ce que tu m’auois promis, suyuit Auguste: tu m’auois asseuré que ie ne serois pas interrompu: ouy, tu as entrepris de me tuer, en tel lieu, tel iour, en telle compagnie, et de telle façon: et le voyant transi de ces nouuelles, et en silence, non plus pour tenir le marché de se taire, mais de la presse de sa conscience: Pourquoy, adiousta il, le fais tu? Est-ce pour estre Empereur? Vrayment il va bien mal à la chose publique, s’il n’y a que moy, qui t’empesche d’arriuer à l’Empire.
At this Cinna cried out that he was far from any such wicked thought. “You are not keeping your promise, Cinna,” Augustus went on. “You assured me that I would not be interrupted. Yes, you have undertaken to kill me, in such a place, on such a day, in such company, and in such a manner.” And seeing him stunned by this news and silent, no longer to keep his bargain of holding his tongue but under the pressure of his conscience, he added: “Why are you doing it? Is it to be emperor? Truly the commonwealth is in a very bad way if I am the only one who stands between you and the Empire.
Tu ne peux pas seulement deffendre ta maison, et perdis dernierement vn procés par la faueur d’vn simple libertin. Quoy? n’as tu pas moyen ny pouuoir en autre chose qu’à entreprendre Cæsar? Ie le quitte, s’il n’y a que moy qui empesche tes esperances. Penses-tu, que Paulus, que Fabius, que les Cosseens et Seruiliens te souffrent? et vne si grande trouppe de nobles, non seulement nobles de nom, mais qui par leur vertu honnorent leur noblesse?
You cannot even defend your own house, and you recently lost a lawsuit through the influence of a mere freedman. What? Have you no means or power for anything except attacking Caesar? I will step aside, if I am the only one standing in the way of your hopes. Do you think that Paulus, that Fabius, that the Cossi and the Servilii will put up with you? Or so great a crowd of nobles, noble not only in name but who honor their nobility by their virtue?”
Apres plusieurs autres propos, car il parla à luy plus de deux heures entieres, Or va, luy dit-il, ie te donne, Cinna, la vie à traistre et à parricide, que ie te donnay autres-fois à ennemy: que l’amitié commence de ce iourd’huy entre nous: essayons qui de nous deux de meilleure foy, moy t’aye donné ta vie, ou tu l’ayes receuë. Et se despartit d’auec luy en cette maniere. Quelque temps apres il luy donna le consulat, se pleignant dequoy il ne le luy auoit osé demander. Il l’eut depuis pour fort amy, et fut seul faict par luy heritier de ses biens.
After much more talk, for he spoke to him for more than two full hours, he said: “Now go. I give you your life, Cinna, as a traitor and a parricide, as I once gave it to you as an enemy. Let friendship begin between us from this day. Let us see which of us two acts in better faith: I in giving you your life, or you in receiving it.” And with that he parted from him. Some time later he gave him the consulship, complaining that Cinna had not dared to ask him for it. From then on Cinna was a close friend to him, and made him the sole heir to his property.
Or depuis cet accident, qui aduint à Auguste au quarantiesme an de son aage, il n’y eut iamais de coniuration ny d’entreprise contre luy, et reçeut vne iuste recompense de cette sienne clemence. Mais il n’en aduint pas de mesmes au nostre: car sa douceur ne le sceut garentir, qu’il ne cheust depuis aux lacs de pareille trahison. Tant c’est chose vaine et friuole que l’humaine prudence: et au trauers de tous nos proiects, de nos conseils et precautions, la fortune maintient tousiours la possession des euenemens.
Now after this incident, which befell Augustus in the fortieth year of his age, there was never again any conspiracy or attempt against him, and he received a just reward for his clemency. But it did not turn out the same for our prince. His gentleness could not save him from falling afterward into the snares of a similar treachery. So vain and frivolous a thing is human prudence. Through all our plans, our counsels and our precautions, Fortune always keeps possession of the outcome.
Fortune in art, war and counsel
Chance has a large share in medicine, poetry, painting and war, whatever our wisdom plans.
Nous appellons les medecins heureux, quand ils arriuent à quelque bonne fin: comme s’il n’y auoit que leur art, qui ne se peust maintenir d’elle mesme, et qui eust les fondemens trop frailes, pour s’appuyer de sa propre force: et comme s’il n’y auoit qu’elle, qui ayt besoin que la fortune preste la main à ses operations. Ie croy d’elle tout le pis ou le mieux qu’on voudra: car nous n’auons, Dieu mercy, nul commerce ensemble.
We call doctors lucky when they achieve some good result. It is as if theirs were the only art that could not stand on its own, with foundations too frail to rest on its own strength, and as if it were the only one that needs Fortune to lend a hand in its operations. I believe all the worst or all the best of it that anyone likes, for we have, thank God, no dealings with each other.
Ie suis au rebours des autres: car ie la mesprise bien tousiours, mais quand ie suis malade, au lieu d’entrer en composition, ie commence encore à la haïr et à la craindre: et respons à ceux qui me pressent de prendre medecine, qu’ils attendent au moins que ie sois rendu à mes forces et à ma santé, pour auoir plus de moyen de soustenir l’effort et le hazart de leur breuuage. Ie laisse faire nature, et presuppose qu’elle se soit pourueue de dents et de griffes, pour se deffendre des assaux qui luy viennent, et pour maintenir cette contexture, dequoy elle fuit la dissolution.
I am the opposite of other people. I always despise medicine, but when I am ill, instead of coming to terms with it, I begin to hate and fear it as well. And to those who urge me to take medicine, I answer that they should at least wait until I have recovered my strength and health, so that I will be better able to withstand the force and the risk of their potion. I leave it to nature, and assume that she has provided herself with teeth and claws to defend herself from the assaults that come upon her, and to maintain this structure whose dissolution she shuns.
Ie crain au lieu de l’aller secourir, ainsi comme elle est aux prises bien estroites et bien iointes auec la maladie, qu’on secoure son aduersaire au lieu d’elle, et qu’on la recharge de nouueaux affaires.
When she is locked in close combat with the disease, I am afraid that people, instead of going to her aid, may aid her adversary, and load her with fresh troubles.
Or ie dy que non en la medecine seulement, mais en plusieurs arts plus certaines, la fortune y a bonne part. Les saillies poëtiques, qui emportent leur autheur, et le rauissent hors de soy, pourquoy ne les attribuerons nous à son bon heur, puis qu’il confesse luy mesme qu’elles surpassent sa suffisance et ses forces, et les recognoit venir d’ailleurs que de soy, et ne les auoir aucunement en sa puissance: non plus que les orateurs ne disent auoir en la leur ces mouuemens et agitations extraordinaires, qui les poussent au delà de leur dessein?
Now I say that Fortune has a large share not only in medicine but in many arts that are more certain. Take the flights of poetry that carry their author away and transport him out of himself. Why should we not attribute them to his good luck? He himself confesses that they surpass his ability and his powers, acknowledges that they come from somewhere other than himself, and admits that they are not at all in his control. In the same way, orators do not claim to control those extraordinary impulses and stirrings that drive them beyond what they intended.
Il en est de mesmes en la peinture, qu’il eschappe par fois des traits de la main du peintre surpassans sa conception et sa science, qui le tirent luy mesmes en admiration, et qui l’estonnent. Mais la fortune montre bien encores plus euidemment, la part qu’elle a en tous ces ouurages, par les graces et beautez qui s’y treuuent, non seulement sans l’intention, mais sans la cognoissance mesme de l’ouurier. Vn suffisant lecteur descouure souuent és escrits d’autruy, des perfections autres que celles que l’autheur y a mises et apperceuës, et y preste des sens et des visages plus riches.
It is the same in painting. Strokes sometimes escape from the painter’s hand that surpass his conception and his knowledge, fill him with wonder, and stun him. But Fortune shows still more plainly the share she has in all these works by the graces and beauties found in them not only without the craftsman’s intention but even without his knowledge. A capable reader often discovers in other people’s writings perfections other than those the author put there or perceived, and lends them richer meanings and aspects.
Quant aux entreprises militaires, chacun void comment la fortune y a bonne part. En nos conseils mesmes et en nos deliberations, il faut certes qu’il y ayt du sort et du bonheur meslé parmy: car tout ce que nostre sagesse peut, ce n’est pas grandchose. Plus elle est aigue et viue, plus elle trouue en soy de foiblesse, et se deffie d’autant plus d’elle mesme.
As for military enterprises, everyone sees how large a share Fortune has in them. Even in our counsels and deliberations there must certainly be some chance and luck mixed in, for all that our wisdom can do is not much. The keener and quicker it is, the more weakness it finds in itself, and the more it distrusts itself.
Ie suis de l’aduis de Sylla: et quand ie me prens garde de pres aux plus glorieux exploicts de la guerre, ie voy, ce me semble, que ceux qui les conduisent, n’y employent la deliberation et le conseil, que par acquit; et que la meilleure part de l’entreprinse, ils l’abandonnent à la fortune; et sur la fiance qu’ils ont à son secours, passent à tous les coups au delà des bornes de tout discours. Il suruient des allegresses fortuites, et des fureurs estrangeres parmy leurs deliberations, qui les poussent le plus souuent à prendre le party le moins fondé en apparence, et qui grossissent leur courage au dessus de la raison.
I am of Sulla’s opinion. When I look closely at the most glorious exploits of war, I see, or so it seems to me, that those who conduct them use deliberation and counsel only for form’s sake. They leave the better part of the enterprise to Fortune, and, trusting in her help, they go at every turn beyond the limits of all reasoning. Chance elations and strange frenzies come upon them in the midst of their deliberations. Most often these drive them to take the course that seems least well-founded, and swell their courage beyond reason.
D’où il est aduenu à plusieurs grands Capitaines anciens, pour donner credit à ces conseils temeraires, d’alleguer à leurs gens, qu’ils y estoyent conuiez par quelque inspiration, par quelque signe et prognostique.
Hence many great captains of antiquity, to give credit to these rash decisions, told their men that they had been prompted to them by some inspiration, some sign or omen.
Voyla pourquoy en cette incertitude et perplexité, que nous apporte l’impuissance de voir et choisir ce qui est le plus commode, pour les difficultez que les diuers accidens et circonstances de chaque chose tirent: le plus seur, quand autre consideration ne nous y conuieroit, est à mon aduis de se reietter au party, où il y a plus d’honnesteté et de iustice: et puis qu’on est en doute du plus court chemin, tenir tousiours le droit. Comme en ces deux exemples, que ie vien de proposer, il n’y a point de doubte, qu’il ne fust plus beau et plus genereux à celuy qui auoit receu l’offence, de la pardonner, que s’il eust fait autrement.
We are uncertain and perplexed, because we cannot see and choose what is most advantageous, given the difficulties raised by the various accidents and circumstances of each thing. That is why, in my opinion, the surest course, even if no other consideration drew us to it, is to fall back on the side where there is more honor and justice. And since we are in doubt about the shortest road, we should always keep to the straight one. In the two examples I have just put forward, there is no doubt that it was finer and more generous for the man who had received the offense to pardon it than to do otherwise.
S’il en est mes-aduenu au premier, il ne s’en faut pas prendre à ce sien bon dessein: et ne sçait on, quand il eust pris le party contraire, s’il eust eschapé la fin, à laquelle son destin l’appelloit; et si eust perdu la gloire d’vne telle humanité.
If things went badly for the first of them, we must not blame his good intention. No one knows whether, had he taken the opposite course, he would have escaped the end to which his destiny called him. And in any case he would have lost the glory of such humanity.
Trust against conspiracies
Suspicion torments princes; open trust, as shown by Alexander and Caesar, wins over enemies.
Il se void dans les histoires, force gens, en cette crainte; d’où la plus part ont suiuy le chemin de courir au deuant des coniurations, qu’on faisoit contre eux, par vengeance et par supplices: mais i’en voy fort peu ausquels ce remede ayt seruy; tesmoing tant d’Empereurs Romains. Celuy qui se trouue en ce danger, ne doit pas beaucoup esperer ny de sa force, ny de sa vigilance. Car combien est-il mal aisé de se garentir d’vn ennemy, qui est couuert du visage du plus officieux amy que nous ayons? et de cognoistre les volontez et pensemens interieurs de ceux qui nous assistent?
We see in the histories many people in this fear, and most of them chose to forestall the conspiracies made against them by vengeance and punishments. But I see very few whom this remedy has served: witness so many Roman emperors. Anyone who finds himself in this danger should not put much hope either in his strength or in his vigilance. For how hard is it to protect oneself from an enemy hidden behind the face of the most obliging friend we have? And to know the inner wishes and thoughts of those who attend us?
Il a beau employer des nations estrangeres pour sa garde, et estre tousiours ceint d’vne haye d’hommes armez: Quiconque aura sa vie à mespris, se rendra tousiours maistre de celle d’autruy. Et puis ce continuel soupçon, qui met le Prince en doute de tout le monde, luy doit seruir d’vn merueilleux tourment. Pourtant Dion estant aduerty que Callippus espioit les moyens de le faire mourir, n’eut iamais le cœur d’en informer, disant qu’il aymoit mieux mourir que viure en cette misere, d’auoir à se garder non de ses ennemys seulement, mais aussi de ses amis.
He may employ foreign nations as his guard and always be surrounded by a hedge of armed men, but in vain: whoever holds his own life in contempt will always make himself master of another’s. And then this continual suspicion, which makes the prince doubt everyone, must be an extraordinary torment to him. So Dion, when he was warned that Callippus was looking for ways to have him killed, never had the heart to look into it. He said he would rather die than live in the misery of having to guard himself not only against his enemies but also against his friends.
Ce qu’Alexandre representa bien plus viuement par effect, et plus roidement, quand ayant eu aduis par vne lettre de Parmenion, que Philippus son plus cher medecin estoit corrompu par l’argent de Darius pour l’empoisonner; en mesme temps qu’il donnoit à lire sa lettre à Philippus, il auala le bruuage qu’il luy auoit presenté. Fut-ce pas exprimer cette resolution, que si ses amis le vouloient tuer, il consentoit qu’ils le peussent faire? Ce Prince est le souuerain patron des actes hazardeux: mais ie ne sçay s’il y a traict en sa vie, qui ayt plus de fermeté que cestui-cy, ny vne beauté illustre par tant de visages.
Alexander showed this much more vividly in action, and more boldly. He was warned by a letter from Parmenio that Philip, his dearest physician, had been bribed with Darius’s money to poison him. At the same moment that he handed the letter to Philip to read, he drank down the potion Philip had brought him. Was this not to declare that if his friends wanted to kill him, he consented to their being able to do it? This prince is the supreme model of daring deeds. But I do not know whether there is any act in his life that shows more firmness than this one, or a beauty so illustrious in so many aspects.
Ceux qui preschent aux Princes la deffiance si attentiue, soubs couleur de leur prescher leur seurté, leur preschent leur ruine et leur honte. Rien de noble ne se faict sans hazard. I’en sçay vn de courage tres-martial de sa complexion et entreprenant, de qui tous les iours on corrompt la bonne fortune par telles persuasions: Qu’il se resserre entre les siens, qu’il n’entende à aucune reconciliation de ses anciens ennemys, se tienne à part, et ne se commette entre mains plus fortes, quelque promesse qu’on luy face, quelque vtilité qu’il y voye. I’en sçay vn autre, qui a inesperément auancé sa fortune, pour auoir pris conseil tout contraire.
Those who preach such watchful distrust to princes, under color of preaching their safety, are preaching their ruin and their shame. Nothing noble is done without risk. I know one prince, of a very martial and enterprising temperament by nature, whose good fortune is spoiled every day by advice of this kind: that he should keep close among his own people, listen to no reconciliation with his old enemies, keep to himself, and never trust himself to stronger hands, whatever promise is made to him and whatever advantage he sees in it. I know another who has unexpectedly advanced his fortune by taking the very opposite advice.
La hardiesse dequoy ils cerchent si auidement la gloire, se represente, quand il est besoin, aussi magnifiquement en pourpoint qu’en armes: en vn cabinet, qu’en vn camp: le bras pendant, que le bras leué. La prudence si tendre et circonspecte, est mortelle ennemye des hautes executions. Scipion sceut, pour pratiquer la volonté de Syphax, quittant son armée, et abandonnant l’Espaigne, douteuse encore sous sa nouuelle conqueste, passer en Afrique, dans deux simples vaisseaux, pour se commettre en terre ennemie, à la puissance d’vn Roy barbare, à vne foy incogneue, sans obligation, sans hostage, sous la seule seureté de la grandeur de son propre courage, de son bon heur, et de la promesse de ses hautes esperances.
The boldness whose glory they seek so eagerly shows itself, when need be, as magnificently in a doublet as in armor, in a study as in a camp, with the arm hanging down as with the arm raised. Prudence so delicate and circumspect is the mortal enemy of lofty deeds. To win over Syphax, Scipio was able to leave his army and abandon Spain, still unsettled under his new conquest, and cross to Africa in two plain ships. There he entrusted himself, on enemy soil, to the power of a barbarian king and to a good faith he did not know, without obligation, without hostage, on the sole security of the greatness of his own courage, of his good fortune, and of the promise of his high hopes.
Habita fides ipsam plerumque fidem obligat. A vne vie ambitieuse et fameuse, il faut au rebours, prester peu, et porter la bride courte aux souspeçons. La crainte et la deffiance attirent l’offence et la conuient. La plus deffiant de nos Roys establit ses affaires, principalement pour auoir volontairement abandonné et commis sa vie, et sa liberté, entre les mains de ses ennemis: montrant auoir entiere fiance d’eux, afin qu’ils la prinssent de luy.
Trust shown usually binds the other’s trust in return. For an ambitious and famous life, one must on the contrary give little credit to suspicions and keep them on a short rein. Fear and distrust draw offense and invite it. The most distrustful of our kings set his affairs in order chiefly by voluntarily abandoning and entrusting his life and his liberty into the hands of his enemies. He showed that he had complete trust in them, so that they would come to trust him.
A ses legions mutinées et armées contre luy, Cæsar opposoit seulement l’authorité de son visage, et la fierté de ses paroles; et se fioit tant à soy et à sa fortune, qu’il ne craingnoit point de l’abandonner et commettre à vne armée seditieuse et rebelle; Stetit aggere fultus / Cespitis, intrepidus vultu, meruitque timeri / Nil metuens.
When his legions mutinied and took up arms against him, Caesar set against them nothing but the authority of his face and the pride of his words. He trusted so much in himself and his fortune that he was not afraid to give himself up and entrust himself to a seditious and rebellious army: He stood, upheld on a mound / of turf, his face unafraid, and earned the right to be feared / by fearing nothing.
Mais il est bien vray, que cette forte asseurance ne se peut presenter bien entiere, et naifue, que par ceux ausquels l’imagination de la mort, et du pis qui peut aduenir apres tout, ne donne point d’effroy; car de la representer tremblante encore, doubteuse et incertaine, pour le seruice d’vne importante reconciliation, ce n’est rien faire qui vaille. C’est vn excellent moyen de gaigner le cœur et volonté d’autruy, de s’y aller soubsmettre et fier, pourueu que ce soit librement, et sans contrainte d’aucune necessité, et que ce soit en condition, qu’on y porte vne fiance pure et nette; le front au moins deschargé de tout scrupule. Ie vis en mon enfance, vn Gentil-homme commandant à vne grande ville empressé à l’esmotion d’vn peuple furieux.
But it is quite true that this strong assurance can be shown whole and natural only by those who are not frightened by the thought of death and of the worst that can happen after all. To display it still trembling, doubtful and uncertain, in the service of an important reconciliation, is to do nothing worthwhile. It is an excellent way to win the heart and will of another to go and submit to him and trust him, provided it is done freely, without the constraint of any necessity, and on condition that one brings to it a pure and clear trust, with a brow at least free of all misgiving. In my childhood I saw a gentleman who was in command of a great city hard pressed by the uprising of a furious populace.
Pour esteindre ce commencement du trouble, il print party de sortir d’vn lieu tres-asseuré où il estoit, et se rendre à cette tourbe mutine: d’où mal luy print, et y fut miserablement tué. Mais il ne me semble pas que sa faute fust tant d’estre sorty, ainsi qu’ordinairement on le reproche à sa memoire, comme ce fut d’auoir pris vne voye de soubsmission et de mollesse: et d’auoir voulu endormir cette rage, plustost en suiuant qu’en guidant, et en requerant plustost qu’en remontrant: et estime que vne gracieuse seuerité, auec vn commandement militaire, plein de securité, et de confiance, conuenable à son rang, et à la dignité de sa charge, luy eust mieux succedé, au moins auec plus d’honneur, et de bien-seance.
To put out this first spark of trouble, he decided to leave a very safe place where he was and go out to this mutinous mob. It went badly for him, and he was miserably killed there. But it does not seem to me that his mistake lay so much in having gone out, as people commonly hold against his memory, as in having taken a path of submission and softness. He tried to lull that rage to sleep by following rather than guiding, and by pleading rather than admonishing. I think that a gracious severity, with a soldierly command full of assurance and confidence, befitting his rank and the dignity of his office, would have served him better, or at least with more honor and propriety.
Il n’est rien moins esperable de ce monstre ainsin agité, que l’humanité et la douceur, il receura bien plustost la reuerance et la crainte. Ie luy reprocherois aussi, qu’ayant pris vne resolution plustost braue à mon gré, que temeraire, de se ietter foible et en pourpoint, emmy cette mer tempestueuse d’hommes insensez, il la deuoit aualler toute, et n’abandonner ce personnage. Là où il luy aduint apres auoir recogneu le danger de pres, de saigner du nez: et d’alterer encore depuis cette contenance démise et flatteuse, qu’il auoit entreprinse, en vne contenance effraiee: chargeant sa voix et ses yeux d’estonnement et de penitence: cerchant à conniller et à se desrober, il les enflamma et appella sur soy.
Nothing is less to be hoped for from this monster, once it is so stirred up, than humanity and gentleness; it will far more readily receive reverence and fear. I would also reproach him for this. He had taken a resolution, brave rather than rash to my mind, to throw himself, weak and in his doublet, into that stormy sea of maddened men; he ought to have seen it through to the end and not abandoned the role. Instead, once he had seen the danger up close, his nerve failed him. He then changed the submissive and flattering bearing he had adopted into a frightened one, loading his voice and his eyes with dismay and remorse. By trying to scuttle off like a rabbit and slip away, he inflamed them and drew them upon himself.
On deliberoit de faire vne montre generalle de diuerses trouppes en armes, (c’est le lieu des vengeances secrettes, et n’est point où en plus grande seureté on les puisse exercer) il y auoit publiques et notoires apparences, qu’il n’y faisoit pas fort bon pour aucuns, ausquels touchoit la principalle et necessaire charge de les recognoistre. Il s’y proposa diuers conseils, comme en chose difficile, et qui auoit beaucoup de poids et de suitte.
A general review of various troops under arms was being planned. (That is the place for secret acts of vengeance, and there is none where they can be carried out in greater safety.) There were public and notorious signs that things did not bode well for certain persons whose principal and necessary duty it was to inspect the troops. Various counsels were put forward, as happens in a difficult matter with much weight and many consequences.
Le mien fut, qu’on euitast sur tout de donner aucun tesmoignage de ce doubte, et qu’on s’y trouuast et meslast parmy les files, la teste droicte, et le visage ouuert, et qu’au lieu d’en retrancher aucune chose, à quoy les autres opinions visoient le plus, au contraire, l’on sollicitast les Capitaines d’aduertir les soldats de faire leurs salues belles et gaillardes en l’honneur des assistans, et n’espargner leur poudre. Cela seruit de gratification enuers ces trouppes suspectes, et engendra dés lors en auant vne mutuelle et vtile confidence.
Mine was that above all we should avoid giving any sign of this suspicion, and should be there and mingle among the ranks with heads high and faces open. Instead of cutting anything out, which was what the other opinions chiefly aimed at, the captains should on the contrary be asked to tell the soldiers to make their salvos fine and lively in honor of the onlookers, and not to spare their powder. This served as a mark of favor toward those suspect troops, and from then on bred a mutual and useful confidence.
La voye qu’y tint Iulius Cæsar, ie trouue que c’est la plus belle, qu’on y puisse prendre. Premierement il essaya par clemence, à se faire aymer de ses ennemis mesmes, se contentant aux coniurations qui luy estoient descouuertes, de declarer simplement qu’il en estoit aduerti. Cela faict, il print vne tres-noble resolution, d’attendre sans effroy et sans solicitude, ce qui luy en pourroit aduenir, s’abandonnant et se remettant à la garde des Dieux et de la fortune. Car certainement c’est l’estat où il estoit quand il fut tué.
The way Julius Caesar took in this matter is, I find, the finest that can be taken. First he tried by clemency to make himself loved even by his enemies. When conspiracies were revealed to him, he was content simply to declare that he had been warned of them. That done, he took a very noble resolve: to await, without fear or anxiety, whatever might come of it, abandoning himself and committing himself to the keeping of the gods and of Fortune. For that was certainly the state he was in when he was killed.
Vn estranger ayant dict et publié par tout qu’il pourroit instruire Dionysius Tyran de Syracuse, d’vn moyen de sentir et descouurir en toute certitude, les parties que ses subiets machineroient contre luy, s’il luy vouloit donner vne bonne piece d’argent, Dionysius en estant aduerty, le fit appeller à soy, pour s’esclaircir d’vn art si necessaire à sa conseruation; cet estranger luy dict, qu’il n’y auoit pas d’autre art, sinon qu’il luy fist deliurer vn talent, et se ventast d’auoir apris de luy vn singulier secret. Dionysius trouua cette inuention bonne, et luy fit compter six cens escus.
A stranger had announced everywhere that, if Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, would give him a good sum of money, he could teach him a way to detect and discover with complete certainty the plots his subjects might devise against him. Dionysius heard of it and had him summoned, to learn about an art so necessary to his preservation. The stranger told him that there was no other art than this: he should have a talent paid out to him and boast of having learned a remarkable secret from him. Dionysius found this a good device and had six hundred crowns counted out to him.
Il n’estoit pas vray-semblable, qu’il eust donné si grande somme à vn homme incogneu, qu’en recompense d’vn tres-vtile apprentissage, et seruoit cette reputation à tenir ses ennemis en crainte. Pourtant les Princes sagement publient les aduis qu’ils reçoiuent des menées qu’on dresse contre leur vie; pour faire croire qu’ilz sont bien aduertis, et qu’il ne se peut rien entreprendre dequoy ils ne sentent le vent. Le Duc d’Athenes fit plusieurs sottises en l’establissement de sa fresche tyrannie sur Florence: mais cette-cy la plus notable, qu’ayant receu le premier aduis des monopoles que ce peuple dressoit contre luy, par Mattheo dit Morozo, complice d’icelles, il le fit mourir, pour supprimer cet aduertissement, et ne faire sentir, qu’aucun en la ville s’ennuïast de sa domination.
It was not likely that he would have given so large a sum to an unknown man except as reward for some very useful teaching, and this reputation served to keep his enemies in fear. So princes wisely make public the warnings they receive of plots laid against their lives, to make people believe that they are well informed and that nothing can be undertaken without their getting wind of it. The Duke of Athens committed many follies in establishing his new tyranny over Florence, but this was the most notable. He received the first warning of the conspiracies that people was hatching against him from Matteo di Morozzo, one of the accomplices; and he had him put to death, to suppress the warning and to keep anyone from feeling that there was discontent with his rule in the city.
Il me souuient auoir leu autrefois l’histoire de quelque Romain, personnage de dignité, lequel fuyant la tyrannie du Triumuirat, auoit eschappé mille fois les mains de ceux qui le poursuiuoyent, par la subtilité de ses inuentions. Il aduint vn iour, qu’vne troupe de gens de cheual, qui auoit charge de le prendre, passa tout ioignant vn halier, où il s’estoit tapy, et faillit de le descouurir.
I remember once reading the story of a certain Roman, a man of rank, who, fleeing the tyranny of the Triumvirate, had escaped a thousand times from the hands of his pursuers by the cleverness of his devices. One day a troop of horsemen charged with capturing him passed right by a thicket where he was crouching, and just missed discovering him.
Mais luy sur ce point là, considerant la peine et les difficultez, ausquelles il auoit desia si long temps duré, pour se sauuer des continuelles et curieuses recherches, qu’on faisoit de luy par tout, le peu de plaisir qu’il pouuoit esperer d’vne telle vie, et combien il luy valoit mieux passer vne fois le pas, que demeurer tousiours en cette transe, luy-mesme les r’appella, et leur trahit sa cachette, s’abandonnant volontairement à leur cruauté, pour oster eux et luy d’vne plus longue peine. D’appeller les mains ennemies, c’est vn conseil vn peu gaillard: si croy-ie, qu’encore vaudroit-il mieux le prendre, que de demeurer en la fieure continuelle d’vn accident, qui n’a point de remede.
But at that point he considered the pain and difficulties he had already endured for so long to escape the continual, close searches being made for him everywhere, the little pleasure he could hope for from such a life, and how much better it would be to take the step once and for all than to remain forever in such terror. So he called them back himself and betrayed his hiding place to them, giving himself up willingly to their cruelty, to relieve both them and himself of further trouble. To call for the enemy’s hands is a rather bold course; yet I believe it would still be better to take it than to remain in the continual fever of a danger for which there is no remedy.
Mais puis que les prouisions qu’on y peut apporter sont pleines d’inquietude, et d’incertitude, il vaut mieux d’vne belle asseurance se preparer à tout ce qui en pourra aduenir; et tirer quelque consolation de ce qu’on n’est pas asseuré qu’il aduienne.
But since the precautions one can take are full of anxiety and uncertainty, it is better to prepare oneself with fine assurance for whatever may come of it, and to draw some consolation from the fact that one is not sure it will happen.