Had Dom John been of the fame Humour with Artaxerxes, who had the least Affection for those he Carefs'd moft, the Affairs of Sofa had not met with fuch an happy Accommodation, fince that lucky Occurrence, and fond Reception, as it would. have done him, perhaps no Injury, yet I'm fure 'twould have ferv'd him in no itead.

When Henry the Seventh of England was made fenfible, that any of his Courtiers were Impove rish'd, and had Worfted themselves in his Ser vice, he had the Good-Nature and Addrefs to: honour him with fome Poft or other, that might: prove very Beneficial to him, and Advance his Fortune without Retrenching his Own. After this manner he gratify'd a certain Courtier, whom he fent with the Order of the Knight of the Garter, to Alphonfus, Eldeft Son of Ferdinand, King of Naples, from whom he receiv'd a very rich Prefent. The fame Method he used in Promoting feveral other of his Officers, when he thought there was fomething to be got, if he Shelter'd them with his honourable and royal Shade,

How many poor Gentlemen do we fee, as it: were Cloyfter'd up, and languishing with adverfe Fortune, in their mean and rural Habitation, tho' one might have juft Reafon to expect from their Courage and Experience, noble and great Atchievements, were any Great Perfon to hold up their Heads above Water? Some perhaps, who languish in Idlenefs, for fear they fhould be thought guilty of any Action derogatory from their Birth, would willingly follow fome moderate Employment, were they countenanc'd and affifted by the powerful Rays of Greatnefs. How many unfortunately find themselves oblig'd to remain conceal'd in Obfcurity, for fear of exposing the Condition of their Fortune, by a mean and shameful

Ap

Appearance, the perhaps the Memory that fome of the most important Offices of State, that once Adorn'd their Family,may be fresh in their Minds? We do not want for Inftances of thofe, who after having for a long Time difcharg'd the Duty of an honourable Poft in the Army, have been forc'd to carry a Musket on their Shoulders. Let not the Fear that our Favours fhall be bury'd in Oblivion, be an Objection against bestowing them: For Men of Honour never can be Ungrateful; befides that, the Benefit is never loft, it being a Virtue and a Delight still remaining in the Confcience of him that obliges. Moreover, in obliging an honeft Man, one often times obliges a Hundred more; who, to preferve the Memory of it, write it on their Heart with everlasting Characters. Parents are careful in inftructing their Children in thofe Obligations they are under to fuch and fuch aFamily, and at the fame time charge them never to forget them.

And fince what be fals one Man, may befal every Man, and that both Favourites and Favours are fubject to the Viciffitude of Time and Fortune, Who can doubt but the most Powerful may at fome time or other stand in Need of the Help and Service of the Meaneft? The Learn'd are oftner promoted by the Favour of their Patrons, than by their own Knowledge and Merit. The moft Ingenious, Virtuous, and Wife are not always the firft or beft Rewarded: But rather thofe, who by: good Fortune have happen'd to hit the Humour of a Man in Power, or a good Mafter, who de lighted in pouring their Favours upon them.

The Advancement of Pope Sixtus the Fifth is obvious to moft Men, thofe who have wrote of his Life have made no fcruple of comparing his firft Rife with that of David, because he look'd after

a Flock

a Flock of Sheep in the Fields. The first Cause of his enfuing Greatnefs was his happy meeting with the Superior of the Convent of Cordeliers of Florence who taking a liking to him,provided for his Schooling and afterwards the Cardinal of Eft, taking Notice of his great Wit, concluded that if he took him into his Protection, he might .render him capable of the most important Negotiations. In Effect he procur'd him a Place to Travel into Spain with Boncompagno, who after that role to be Cardinal and Pope; and from whence he was no fooner return'd, but in Confideration of his Patron, he was elected General of his Order. That eminent Dignity foon ferv'd him as a Foot-step to be made a Cardinal, by the Recommendation of the fame Cardinal Eft, to Fope Gregory the Thirteenth, after whofe Death he made fuch a great Interest in the Conclave, that he got him elected fovereign Pontif.

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It is therefore very true, that without the Help of fome Great Perfons, a great many might often be found reduced to the fame Extremities with the Paralitick, who cry'd every Year before the Pool, that he had no Body to dip him in. One might with fome Juftice compare those great Wits, who for Want of Help continue groveling, and as it were buried in Dirt, to one of thofe wonderful Machines, artfully fram'd and contrived, but which of it felf is unmovable, and unable to produce thofe extraordinary Effects which were expected, without its being actuated by a Hand that guides it after it is in Motion. Or rather to that precious Matter of which Diamonds and Pearls are form'd, which without the Influence of the Sun, would remain like Drops of Water, or rather Dew, without Splendour, Brightnefs, and Luftre.

But

But that which fhould oblige moft the Mighty sand Powerful of the Age, to intereft themselves for the Advancement of their Inferiors is, that a great many of those Perfons reduced, and very often unknown, are poffeffed of the fharpeft Wit, a found Judgment, a good Memory, an agreeable and pleasant Humour, a natural Complaifance, excellent Organs, and of Difpofitions fo readily preopar'd to receive the most fublime Forms, that one might fay, that there's nothing wanting in them, hut the fweet Influence of a Protector: Not un-dike Memnon's Statue, which never fpoke without being animated by the Rays of the Sun.

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CHAPTER XXX.

That it is better to Pardon an Offender, than, by Punishing him, to Injure our felves.

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Gentleman had a Country-House so commodiously Situated, as to command the whole Country, had not a Walnut-Tree obftructed the Profpect. This Tree, it feems, was obferv'd to fpring out of the Ground the very Day that a certain King obtain'd a fignal Victory over his Enemies. Upon this Motive the Grand-Father us'd all the Tenderness and Care imaginable to raise it; and the Father was no lefs Superftitious and Induftrious in bringing it to Perfection: But the Grand Son, without Regard to the Reafons for which his Predeceffors had hitherto preferv'd the Tree, was refolv'd to have it Down, and accordingly difpatch'd an Executioner; who, when he had brandifh'd his Axe, and was just ready to give the fatal Stroke, was prevail'd upon, by the pathetick Eloquence of the Walnut Tree, to retard the Blow. I defire to know the Reason that they proceed upon, faid he, in fuffering me to live to this Age, and grow to this prodigious Bulk, and then to bring me to this untimely End? Is it this, that as my Station bath hitherto been more than ordinary eminent and confpicuous, fo my Downfal fhould be the more remarkable and shocking? Let me beg of you to mediate in my Behalf, and to tell my Mafter, that I acknowledge I am an Obstacle, and that I interrupt his Pleafure in viewing the Country; but that if he'd be pleas'd to put the great and many Ser-. vices I do him in the Balance against this one and Small

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