I Can not but perceiue how that thou ( my dearest Cornelius Pulcher ) haste made choice of the most pleasing course of life that may be ; wherin thou dost affoorde no lesse profite to the Common-wealth , wherein thou liuest , then courtesie to thy particular friends , with whom thou conuersest . But forsomuch as a Lande may be found voide of all venomous creatures , as men report of the Iland of Creete , but hitherto there was neuer any Common-wealth heard of , which was cleane destitute of enuie , emulation , and contention , three fruit full nursing mothers of enmitie : for , if there were no other cause , yet euen friendship it selfe will soone intangle vs with many enmities : which Chilo the wise man considering , demaunded of one who vaunted , that hee had neuer an enemy , whether withall , he had any one friend . Wherevppon it seemeth to mee , that a States man amongst other things which he shuld know concerning his enemies , ought not carelesly to giue eare to the saying of Zenophon , that it belongeth to a wise man euen to reape profite by his enemies . Therefore hauing comprized together in a little Treatise , that which not long before I had discoursed of , I haue sent it thee , almost word for word as it was vttered , omitting all precepts of Politicall gouernment written by me , as knowing that book of mine to bee seldome out of your hands .

Former Ages thought it sufficient to keepe themselues vntouched from the rage of all straunge and wilde beasts , and this onely was the end of all their combate with them : But in these our dayes men hauing at length learned howe to make vse of them , nowe they doe euen reape manifolde commodities by them , as beeing nourished by their bodies , cloathed by their wooll , medicined by theyr gall , and other entrailes ; and lastly , armed with their skinnes , so that nowe wee may iustly feare , lest that through want of wilde beasts , mans life doe waxe altogether brutish , defectiue , and sauage : sith then it sufficeth some , not to bee iniured of their ennemies : but yet others , of the wiser sort , it becommeth euen to reape profite by them , as Zenophon giueth counsell , wee must not therefore be incredulous , but rather , search out the Methode and the Arte howe to bee able to attayne to that perfection , very needefull for such who can not liue without some ennemies . The husbandman can not frame euery tree according to his minde , nor the hunter tame euery wilde beast , yet both haue found meanes ●owe , the one , by barren trees , the other , by wilde beasts , might receiue much profite : Sea water is no lesse vnsauorie then vnwholesome , and yet it nourisheth fish , and affoords conuenient passage to transporte whatsoeuer profitable were . The Satyre , at the first sight of fire , woulde needes haue kissed and embraced it : but Prometheus in the Poet checked him with this verse : Thou hairie goate , from touch of fire abstaine , Lest that thy beardlesse chinne too late complaine .

And yet it giueth light , and yeeldeth heate ; yea it is a most needefull helpe to the skilfull vse , in what Art soeuer . Let vs likewise consider our ennemy ( though otherwise hee bee altogether hurtfull and vntractable ) whether perchance one may touch him gently , vse him wisely , and reape good by hym profitably . There bee many thinges which are greeuous , burthensome , and contrary to the nature of those on whom they light , and yet you see how that euen sickenesse it selfe giueth some good occasion to liue at ease , and howe that much turmoyle befalling to others , hath beene both a strengthening , and a practise of their patience : yea more , euen the losse of goodes and banishment hath occasioned some , as , Diogenes and Crates , to betake themselues to the studie of of Philosophie .

As for Zeno , when hee heard newes of his shipwracke , presumed to say , I thanke thee good Fortune , that thou hast drouen me to a poore Studients gowne . For euen as the beasts of the best constitution , and of good digestion , deuoure and concoct Serpents and Scorpions , yea , some are so nourished , through the extreame heate of their stomackes , and good temperature of their Spirites , with stones and shell-fishe , whereas weake and queasie stomackes are ready to vomite , with tasting eyther bread or wine : euen so doe the vnwise spoyle friendshippe it selfe , whereas men of vnderstanding can make no small vse , euen by their ennemies .

Therefore first it seemeth to mee , that that very thing which is most hurtefull in enmitie , may become most profitable to men of discretions but by what meanes shall that come to passe you will say ? For thine ennemie carefully watching , dooth narrowely obserue all thy actions , and on euery side dooth curiously prie into thy life , gaping after euery occasion of harming , and dooth , not onely as the beast Lynx by his sight , pierce through trees , stockes , and stones , but dooth search out thine actions , and vndermine thine enterprises , and that euen by thy seruants , friendes , kinsfolkes , and familiar acquaintaunce : for oftentimes our friendes , through our negligence and delay , are sicke , and euen dead before wee are aware of it , whereas through our ouermuch curiositie , wee can hardely forbeare from hearkening euen after the very dreames of our ennemies . But as for thy sickenesse , debts , or domesticall ●arres with thy wife , they will be sooner concealed from thy selfe , then from thine ennemie , yea aboue all , hee will pursue thy faultes , and trace after them most daungerously . And euen as vultures doe followe the smell of dead carkasses , as not able for to take the sent of pure and wholesome bodies , in like manner , the woundes and distempered affections incident in our life , doe waken our ennemies . And to these come rushing our ill-willers , and violently take holde of them , and rip them vp .

Therefore it is most expedient for thee to liue very circumspectly , to take heede to thy selfe , and neyther say , nor doe , any thing rashly , or vnaduisedly : but rather , to leade thy life , as it were keeping an exact diet , without blame , or reprehension whatsoeuer : for this heedefulnesse so repressing the passion of oure mindes , and keeping Reason within her boundes of duetie , dooth frame a carefull desire , and settled purpose , to liue vprightly and blamelesly : for euen as Citties well taught and tempered with the continuall warres of their next neighbours , do learne good discipline , and embrace a good and well ordered gouernement of their common-weale : euen so those , which through others enmities are constrained to haue aneve to their life , to abstaine from carelesnesse and negligence , and to doe all things with a kinde of careful dexteritie , beeing ledde with custome , themselues scarce perceiuing it , they doe incline to a course of life voyde of errour , and doe settle their behauiour , and adorne their manners , with very little helpe of learning : for they who haue at hand that verse of Homer , How then ( alas ) would Priamking of ( Troy , And Priams sonnes be fild with scorning ioy .

Are thereby withdrawne and dehorted from all things which might minister to their enemies any occasion of reioycing or laughter : we see oftentimes how that players and musitions in the Theaters , if they be alone by themselues , do play their parts carelesly , and without alacritie , but being once in strife and emulation , with any others , they do not only endeuour themselues to excell , but take care to haue their Instruments in exceeding good order , to tune them choicely , and to frame their consort most 〈◊〉 ●nd absolute : euen so he t●●t knoweth that his enemie is a iealous enuier both of h●● life and ●●●●●●tion , will presently looke more narrowly to himselfe 〈◊〉 ●xamine his actions more exactly , and frame his ●●fe more orderly , 〈◊〉 i● the p●oper●●e of vice , that when w● offend , we stand in awe more of our enemies then of our friends : wherevpon Nasica , whenas many supposed and affirmed , that the Roman comonweale , was now placed in a secure estate , whenas both the Carthaginians were vtterly destroyed , and the Achaians brought vnder the yoke of bondage , nay rather ( quoth he ) we are in most dangerat this very time , hauing none left vs , whom we might , either feare for danger , or who should keepe vs in awe . And herevnto the saying of Diogenes no lesse agreeing to Policie , then Philosophy , who being asked of one , how he might be auenged of his enemies : why ( quoth he ) in being a vertuous and honest man ; if men see their enemies horses or dogges much esteemed and set by , it will mol●st their mindes , and if they chance to see their enemies field well tilled , or their garden well prospering , it causeth them to fetch many a deepe sigh : what then would they doe trowest thou , if thou shewest thy selfe to bee a iust , prudent , and honest man , in thy words well aduised , in thy actions vnspotted , and in thy diet most temperate .

The Poet Pindarus saith , that men vanquished haue their tongues so bound , that they dare not offer to hisse , but yet not simplie : neither all are so , but they chiefly that perceiue themselues to be ouercome by their enemies , in industrie , in goodnesse , in magnanimitie , in humanitie , in many benefites : these be the things ( saith Demosthenes ) which restrayne the tongue , which seale vp the mouth , which stop the breath , and cause silence .

If thou wilt greatly grieue thine enemie , do not accuse him of his wanton behauiour , of his effeminate minde , of intemperance , of his scurrillitie , of his couetousness but in the meane while , be thou thy selfe a man of courage , chaste , loyall , courteous , and iust , amongst those with whome thou liuest : but if thou chance to goe so farre as to speake ill of him , see that those things which to him thou obiectest , bee far from thine owne selfe ; sift and examine thine owne soule , search out euery corner therof , wherin thou art faultie , least euen thine own guiltines gall thee , with that verse of the tragicall Poet.

If thy enemie terme thee vnlearned , striue to shew thy vttermost indeuors and dilligence ; if fearefull , stir vp thy valour and corrage , if lasciuious , wipe cleane out of thy minde , that little remayning impression of wantonnesse secretly lurking therein : for there is nothing more shamefull , nothing more odious , then a slander retorted vpon the aucthor thereof ; but euen as the refracted light doth more hurt the weake eye-sight , euen so reprehensions iustly redounding backe , do most of all grieue the euill speaker : for as the winde called Caecias draweth vnto it clowdes , so a vicious life breedeth all reports : therefore Plato , as oft as he kept company with any , who vnseemly behaued themselues , withdrawing himself in priuate , was wont to say to himselfe : what , am I such a one ? so he which hath slandered an other mans life , if by and by he do examine and well order his owne , thereby forming and framing it to a contrary mould , he shal reape some commoditie by his slander , which otherwise both seemeth , and is altogether vaine and vnprofitable . It seemeth to most men most rediculous , if a crooke-backe or bald-pate do reproche or vpbrayde another with the same imperfections ; but it deserueth more then ordinary laughter , if a man do mocke and reproch another with that wherewith he himselfe may iustly be mocked and reproched , like vnto that which Leo Emperour of Byzantium aunswered vnto a certaine crooke-backe , which iested at his bleare eyes , saying , thou reprochest me with defect of nature , and thou carriest Nemesis vpon thy backe , therfore do not thou obiect adultry to an other , thy selfe madding after the loue of boyes ; nor yet prodigallitie , they selfe being a niggard . Alemaeon in the Poet checked Adrastus in this sort .

What then did Adrastus ? he would not cast in his teeth an other bodies fault , but euen his owne , thus :

So also Domitius reproching Craessus , said , didst not thou weepe for the death of thy Lamprey which thou norishedst in thy pond ? wherevpon Craessus replied , didst not thou burie three wiues without one teare ? wherefore he that reprocheth , must not be witty in his owne conceit , lowd in his voyce , and lewd in his talke , but rather blamelesse and faultlesse in his life : for it seemeth that euen God himselfe hath to no one so much enioyned this golden precept ( Knowe thy selfe ) as vnto him , who is about to reproch another ; least speaking what hee would , hee heare that which hee would not , for such a one ( as Sophocles the tragicke Poet tels vs . )

Behold now what profit there is in reproching our enemies , and yet there is no lesse commoditie receiued by being reproched of our enemies . Wherfore Antisthenes said not amisse , that those that would liue free from vice , haue neede either of most vnfained freinds , or of most bitter enemies , because those by their admonitions , and those by their reproches , do withdraw him from vice , and because that now a dayes friendship is become feeble in reprehending freely , talkatiue in flattering , and mute in admonishing , wee must learne the truth , euen of our enemies . For euen as Telephus , when among his owne friendes , he found-none to cure his wound , permitted his enemy to doe it : so must hee that hath not a friend to correct him , suffer the reprehension of his enemie , hauing regard rather to the deede it selfe , then to the mind of the reprehender : and euen as he who purposed to kil Prometheus the Thessalian , opened his impostume with his sworde , and by that meanes both saued his life , and cured him of his disease : euen so very often a taunt , which either anger or enmitie hath cast vpon vs , doth salue some wound of our soule , either vnknown through ignorance , or vnregarded through negligence : but the most part of men consider not the truth of the reproch obiected , but endeuour rather to find some fault in the person reproaching , and so , much like wrastlers , they do not wipe from themselues the dust of reproches , but rather besprinkle others with the same ; and so go grapling with them , themselues ouerthrowing one another : yea rather he that is noted for some crime by his enemies , if it be true , by and by he ought with farre more diligence to purge it away , then a man would wipe out of his garment any apparant spot or blemish : but if false , then we ought to enquire out the cause , which was the cause of the fault finding , & withal , he must feare , and take good heed , least he committed any thing at vnawaies , any way like , or neere to that for which he was reproched ; as for example : Lacides King of Argos was accounted somewhat lasciuious , onely for his sleeke lookes and mincing gate : so Pompey , albeit , a man farre from all lust and effeminaties , beecause hee vsed to scratch his head with one finger : was noted with the same crime : so Cr●ssus was thought to haue abused one of the vestall virgins , by reason of a farme which he greatly desired to buy of her , and for that cause , to obtaine his content , he very often conuersed with her apart : so Posthumia , bicause she was so giuen to laughter , and somewhat forward in talking with men , was suspected of her honestie , and that so farre forth , that she was accused thereof openly in the court , but in the end , being found guiltlesse , and acquited by Spurius Minutius , being then high priest , she had this caueate of him , that hereafter she shuld not vse words vnsutable to her life : so Themistocles , by Pausanius , although most cleare in himself , was suspected of treason , as vsing him friendly , and writing & sending oft to him . Therefore when a false thing is obiected , it must not be neglected and contemned as being a lie , but rather we must search out , if either we , or any of our friends , haue spoken , or done , or attempted any such things , which might carry some likelyhoode of that slander , and so warily to auoyde it : for if others , by falling into vnexpected miseries , doe learne their owne good , as Meropa in the Poet speaketh : Whiles Fortune blinde depriues my haplesse eyes Of deerest ioyes , at length she makes me wise .

What dooth hinder vs that wee shoulde not accept of a maister that taketh no wages , but instructeth gratis , to wit euen an ennemie , to be profited by him , and learne something which before wee knewe not : for an enemy dooth perceiue many things farre better than a friend , because a louer ( as saith Plato ) is euen blinded with the affection of the person beloued , whereas hatred , besides curiositie , hath for his companion , an affected desire of pratling , whenas one of the enemies of Hiero reproched him with his stincking breath : he going home to his wife , questioned with her sharpely , saying , What meaneth this , that thou neuer toldst me of this before ? She no lesse chaste than harmelesse , aunswered , shee thought al men had the same sauour : So that those thinges , which eyther pertayne to the body , or belong to any sense , or else bee apparant in all mens sights , are sooner knowne by a mans ennemies , than by his friends or familiars . Besides , it is not possible so to bridle the tongue ( which is not the least parte of Vertue ) as , to frame it to be alwayes obedient , and controlde by Reason , vnlesse a man by much practise , by great care , and by all earnest indeuours , doe striue for to subdew those rebellious passions of the minde , amongst which Anger beareth not the least sway : for a worde which vnwittingly dooth breake out of the mouth , as it is in the Poet : My deerest childe , what speach strange and vncouth , Hath burst from out the fenc●d walles of thy mouth ?

When such wordes ( I say ) flie carelesly out of themselues , they do as it were , slide and slippe away most commonly from vnexercised , and vnsetled mindes : which , when it happeneth , it argueth great weakenesse of minde , much distemperature of iudgement , with no lesse sauage strangenesse of behauiour , in as much as for a mannes speeche , a thing , of it selfe , of least account ( as wee reade in diuine Plato ) both by the gods , and by men , a most grieuous punishment is allotted , whereas silence is alwayes without daunger : neyther onely ( as Hipocrates sayeth ) dooth it preuent thirst , but aboue all , being wisely vsed , when wee are reproached , it preserueth a kinde of grauitie altogether Socraticall , call , or rather Herculean , for Hercules , as it is in the Poet : — Carde not a flie for all backebiting termes .

Neither surely is it more laudable or godly to be quiet at the rebuke of our enemies , and to saile carelesly by it , as by a dangerous rocke , but practise of our patience is farre more to be affected : For , if thou art once inured to beare patiently a contumelious ennemy , thou wilt easily suffer the rage of thy rayling wife , thou wilt lesse bee troubled with the bitter checke of thy brother or friend : yea more , thou wilt sustayne euen the scourge of thy parents , wythout any commotion of thy minde : for Socrates did forbeare Xantippe his wife , beeing a very froward and wayward woman , because hee thought hee might better conuerse with others , if hee were accustomed to forbeare with her : but it is much more excellent to bee able to tollerate calamitie , as being fore-prepared by long exercise the opprobrious taunts and reuilings of our enimies Py this means we make shew of our mild disposition , & vnmoued patience , euen towards our enemies : for here is a more vse of simplicitie , of an high erected spirite , and of gentlenes , then euen in friendship it selfe . For it is not so commendable , to doe well to a mans friend , as it is shamefull , not to doe it in time of his neede : so that , to let slippe the occasion of reuenging our ennemie , being offered , argueth much humanitie . But hee that hath a fellow-feeling compassion of his afflicted enemy , who helpes his necessities who sheweth mercy to his distressed children , and vnderproppeth his decaying family , whosoeuer dooth not both loue him for his curtesie , and praise him for his goodnes , that man ( as the Poetsaieth ) Sure hath abreast hewne out of Adamant , A man may take profit And heart ●●●amde of peerelesse Diamant .

When Caesar commaunded the ouerthrowne monuments of Pompey , to be agayne set vp , Cicero told him , that in erecting the Trophies of Pompey , hee hadde established his owne . Therefore a man must not spare to praise his very ennemy , and to honour him too , if hee doe deserue it : for the commender is thereby more praise-woorthy , and better to be beleeued whensoeuer he reprehendeth , as not hating the man , but reproouing the matter : but that which is yet most profitable and excellent , is , that hee , who doth once accustome himselfe to praise euen his enemy , and neuer grieues , nor enuies his prosperous successe , that man must needes be farre estranged from grudging and enuying at the prosperitie of his friends and familiars , and ( I pray you ) what exercise can possible woorke so much good for our soules , or frame our disposition better , than that which cleane taketh away that too much affected humor of enuy and emulation .

For euen as in a Citty there be many things necessary , though otherwise not so good , which being once allowed by custome , and confirmed by force of law , cannot be easily abolished , how pernitious soeuer they be ; euen so , enmitie acompanies , with hatred , with enuie , with a delight in other mens harmes , and with the memorie of receiued iniuries , and yet leaues them all in the minde : besides all these , enters in fraudulent dealing , deepe deceipts ▪ and perfidious treacheries , as presupposing these things may lawfully be vsed towards our enemies : & then being ingraffed , they can by no meanes be rooted out with head-strong affections , if we do not curbe them , in conuersing with our enemies , it is to be feared , lest being ouercome by custome , we vse them euen with our friends : if then Pithagoras did very well , in accustoming his Disciples , euen in vnreasonable creatures , to abstaine from crueltie and iniuries , so that he would intreat both fowlers and fishers , to let go the one his birds , the other his fish , being taken ; or at the least redeemed them with money and so let them loose ; yea & forbade the slaughter of any tame heast whatsoeuer : much more glorious questionlesse were it , if that euen being enemies , in contentions and iarres betweene man and man , wee would shew our selues to be noble minded , vpright , and true hearted , by controuling , and repressing all vile degenerate , and hurtefull passions of our minder ; to the intent , that in conuersing with our friends , our patience may be vnmouable and our selues abstayning from all maner of wickednes . Scaur●● was Domit●●● priuate enemie , and publike accuser , yet when as before the iudgement day a certaine seruaunt of Domitius came to Scaurus , as being about to tell him somwhat against his master , he would not suffer him to speake , but apprehending him , sent him backe to his master : so likewise Cato accusing Murena of bribery , in suing for offices , and gathering together proofes to confirme his accusation , in the meane season there followed him at his heels ( according to the fashion of those times ) certaine men who spied out all his proceedings and asked him now and then , whether he purposed to do any thing touching the accusation that day or no , if he had said no , they presently beleeued it , and went their way : and this surely was a strong argument of that great estimation which they had of Ca●o ; and yet it is far more laudable , if being enuied , to deal iustly euen with our vtter enemies , we neuer either vniustly defraude , or craftely circumuent our friends and acquantance . But sith that euery larke hath his crest ( according to the saying of Simouides ) so euery mans nature is bent to contention , emulation , and enuy , the vnseperable follower of vayne-minded men ( as Pindarus speaketh ) it were no small profit if a man would poure out such like affections vpon his enemies , as it were by certaine channels , to driue them farre from our neighbours and companions : which thing Onomademus an excellent Stats-man seemed to haue throughly considered , who in a great tumult which arose in the Iland of Chios , being one of the superior faction , counselled his felowes , that they should not expell al their aduersaries , but still leaue some in the Cittie ( least said he ) otherwise being voyd of all our enemies , we should beginne to quarrell with our friends : besides , these humors being spent vppon our enemies , they will lesse greiue our friendes ; for the potter needs not enuy the potter : ( as the Poet Hosi●●●● saith , ) nor the musitian the musitian , nor the neighbour be iealous of his neighbour , or kinsman , or brother now beginning to prosper . But if no way may be found , whereby thou maist be free from strife , enuy , and contentions , at least frame thy selfe , to grieue at the happy successe of thine enemies , and stir vp that contentious edge , by sharpening and whetting it on thy enemies , for euen as handsome Gardeners , imagine that rootes and violets will prosper the better , being set by garlicke and onions , because all that whatsoeuer is filthy and vnsauory in the norishment of the earth , is deriued into th●● , euen so our enemie , drawing to him , selfe , and receiuing all our rancor and malice , will make vs more tractable and louing to our friendes in their prospentie . Therefore we must contend with our enemies for glory for power , or any lawfull increase of our wealth , and not only abstayne from repining , if they go beyond vs in any thing , but rather obserue the meanes whereby they haue excelled vs , and endeuor to surpasse them in industry , in constancie of labours , and in temperance : yea let vs be our enemies iealous obseruers , in that sort as Themistocles was wont to say , that Milti●●●● victory in Marathon bereaued him of his sleepe : for those which thinke that their enemies do ouerpasse them , either in publike charge , or in pleading , or in gouerning the commonwealth , or els in the fauor of princes , or multitude of friends ; those men if they conuert a glorious kinde or practicall emulation into a certaine deiected and base-minded repining , they are vexed with an idle and fruitlesse enuy , but he that is not blinded with the hatred of his enemie , but as an vncorrupt and vnpartiall spectator , doth behold his manners , his sayings , his doings , he shall perceiue that the most part of those things which he enuyed in him , were gotten by his dilligent prouidence , and good carriage ; and thereby ayming at the end , he will increase his good desire of honestie and glory , and cutting off each vayne and slouthfull affection . But if our enemies , by flattering , by subtil dealing , by suites in law , by taking of bribes , do get any credit or rep●●●tion , either in court , or common-woule , that shall not onely giue vs any occasion of griefe , but euen gift vs very much , by opposing against them the liberty of our minde , and the pur●●es of our life , free from al reproch whatsoeuer : for ( if we may beleeue Plato ) what masse of gold soeuer , is either ouer , or vnder the corth , deserues not to be compared with vertue , besides , that saying of Solo● ought still to be in our mouthes .

Much lesse should we preferre the trencher-hired applause of spectators in a Theater , or the honours and first places amongst the Eunuches , Concubines , and great men belonging to princes , before our vertue : for nothing deserues , either admiration , or emulation , whose being is sharnefull ; But that the louer is euer blinded with affection towards his beloued , ( as Plato tels vs ) and we do with more ease perceiue a shamefull action , when it is committed by our enemies ; howsoeuer neither the ioy which we haue by their misdeeds , nor the griefe which we conceiue of their good deeds , ought to be idle and vnprofitable vnto vs , but rather we ought so to frame the matter of both sides , that both in shunning their vices , we wax more absolute , and in imitating their vertues , we become more excellent then they themselues .