The doctrinal of princes made by the noble oratour Isocrates, [and] translated out of Greke in to Englishe by syr Thomas Eliot knight

¶ The oracion of Isocrates to Nicocles the kynge .

THei that b● wonte Nicocles , to bringe to you , that be kynges , garmentes , vessell , or plate , or other lyke iewelles , wherof thei be nedie , and ye be riche , and haue plentie : thei plainely seme vnto me , not to present you , but to make open market , sellyng those thinges much more craftily , than thei that confesse them selfe to retaile . For my parte I suppose that to bee the beste gefte and moste profitable , also most conuenient as well for me to geue , as for the to receiue , if I mought prescribe vnto the , by what studies desiryng , and from what workes absteinyng ; thou maist best order thy roialme and citee . For to priuate persons be sufficient Instructions , specially that thei liue not delicately , but daiely do labour for thinges concernyng their liuyng . And moreouer thei haue lawes , wherby thei are gouerned : Thei h●ue also libertee of speche , wherwith it is lefull for freendes to blame eche other , and enemies to reproche eche other of their offences .

Therto diuers ancient poetes haue left sondrie workes , instructyng men howe to liue well , so that by all those meanes it seemeth , that diuers men haue amended their liuyng .

¶ But to great princes no suche thyng hapneth , for thei , who of all other ought to be best taught or instructed , after thei be ones stablished in their authoritee : thei styll perseuere most ignorant and without lernyng . For as muche as many men dare not approche them , and thei that kepe theim companie speake alwaie to please them .

¶ Moreouer , beyng made lordes of muche substance and great authoritee , and not vsyng well suche occsions as happen , thei haue caused many to doubte , whiche life is best to be chosen , either of them that liue priuately and meanely , or of them that be in princely dignitee . for whan they beholde their honour , richesse , and authoritee , thei suppose , that all princes be equall to gods , but whan thei consider the feare and perils , and reuoluyng in their remembrances dooe finde some slaine by them , that leste ought to haue doone it , other doyng some displeasure to their most familiar companions , to diuers hapneth bothe the one and the other : than contrarie wise thei thinke it better and more commodious , to liue in any other maner , how so euer it be , than in so many dangers , to be kynge of all Asie . The cause of this disorder and trouble , is for as muche as thei repute a kyngedome as mete for euery man to haue , as any other meane office , where of al thinges perteining to man , a kingdome is the greattest , and requireth most prouidence , touchyng euery acte , wherby a man maie beste gouerne accordyng to the maners of people , and to obserue suche thinges as be good , and exchue those that be noifull : it is expedient to take counsaile , and examine suche actes as be in daily experience . Generally , all studies , whiche ought to be obserued most diligently , and wherin a man ought to be exercised , I wyll assaie to declare . but whether this my gifte ones finished , shall accorde to the purpose that I goe about : it is harde to know at the beginnyng . for many thinges , whiche haue bene written as well in verse as in prose , as longe as thei were in the myndes of the writars , men had of them great expectacion : but after thei were ones finished & openly published , men had of them opinion much lasse than thei hoped . Howe be it this myne enterprise is to be commended , wherin I seke for that , whiche other men haue committed , and do prescribe rules to them that be gouernours .

¶ For they that teache priuate persons , do profite them whom thei teache onely : But if any man instructeth in vertu them that haue rule ouer the multitude , he therby profiteth the one and the other as well them that be in auctoritee , as those that be vnder their gouernance , for as muche as to the firste he maketh their aucthoritee the more stable and sure , and to the other he causeth the rule or gouernance to be the more easier .

¶ First therfore it muste be considered , what is the office of them that dooe gouerne , for if we order well the head , and that which is the principall of the whole matter , hauyng our respecte thervnto , the better shall we treate of the residue .

❧ I suppose all men wyll graunt , that it perteineth to princes , their countceie by any aduesitee , beyng troubled , to set it in quietnesse : And if it be welthie , so to preserue it . And to make also great of that , that is litle , sens therfore all other thynges , whiche daiely happen , ought to bee doone and experienced , and verily it is apparant to all men , that it behoueth them , that are and shal be of power to do the premisses , and also those , whiche shall therof consult , not to be ignorant : but to consider how thei maie vse them more prudently than other in their ministracion .

For it is very certaine that suche shall princes haue their roialmes and gouernance , as thei them selfes haue prepared their owne mindes and opinions .

And therfore no wrasteler or champion ought so muche to trauaile his bodie in exercise , as kynges ought their mindes in studie : for all the prices that euer were geuen in commune games or Iustes , are in no parte to be compared to that price , wherfore ye that be kinges , daiely do labour : whiche thynges considered , it is expedient to take good hede , that as muche as thou excellest other men in honour , so much more thou maiest excede them in vertues . And thinke not care and diligence in al other thinges profitable , and in makyng vs better to be of none importance : Ne condemne not mans infelicitee , that concernyng beastes we haue founde craftes to make them tame , and to be of more value , and litle do auaunce our selfes to the atteinyng of vertue . but rather as lernyng and industrie maie be in any thynge beneficiall vnto our soules , so order thy witte and opinion . Be also most familiar with them , whiche beyng about the , be wisest : and get other suche as thou maiest come by moste like vnto them .

Thinke not that it shall become thee , to lacke the knowlage of any famous poetes and other great learned men : but be thou of the one the herer , of the other the disciple or scholer .

¶ Prepare thy selfe so , that in vertue thou maiest be iudge of them , whiche therin be thine inferiours , and a contendar with them that be thy superiours , by suche maner of exercise thou shalte soone atteine to be suche one , as we determined that he ought to be , that ruleth a right , and gouerneth well his countreie or citee .

¶ Thou shalt be counsailed best by thy selfe , in thinkyng it inconuenient , that the better be ruled by the worse , or that fooles before wise men shulde be preferred .

❧ The more vehemently thou abhorrest other mens madnesse or folie , the better shalte thou practise thy wit : for therat must thei begyn , that purpose to do any of those thynges , whiche be conuenient and necessarie . And therwith loue well their people and countraie , for no man shall rule well either , horse or houndes , nor men , or any thyng els , if he delite not and take pleasure in those thynges , whiche be vnder his gouernance .

¶ Take care of the multitude , and esteme aboue all thynges , to rule graciousely ouer them , whom thou gouernest , remembring that as well where fewe persons gouerneth , as also in other commune weales , thei longest doe continue , that for the multitude do take most care and studie .

¶ Thou shalte truly rule well thy people , Iuiuries to be auoided . if thou neither doest suffre any man to do wronge , nor despisest any that sufffreth wronge . And takest good hede , that good men be rewarded with honour and auctoritee , and that other by any iniurie be not indamaged . These be the principles and chiefe introduction in to the right and commendable gouernance of a publike weale .

¶ Repell or change suche lawes and ordinances as be not well constitute , Hurtefull tradicions to be auoided . specially be thou the auctour of those that be good , or at the least the folower of them that were well made by other .

¶ Seke for suche lawes , What the lawes shulde be . that on al partes be good , and doe profite to all vniuersally , and in them selfes be of one accorde and consent : moreouer , those that amonge the people make fewest contencions . And suche controuersies as be , determine them shortely . Al these thynges ought to be in lawes , that be well and substancially ordeined .

¶ Prouide for thy people suche occupacion , as wherby may growe great advantage and lucre , and that contencion and sute , maie bringe to them detrimente , to the intent that they maie eschue the tone , to the other thei maie be well disposed and redy .

¶ In controuersies geue alwaies such sentence as is not repugnant , and prononce thy iudgementes without fauour to any man , and without discordance , so that thei be euer all one and like in semblable causes .

¶ It becometh and is also expedient to princes in matter of iustice , to haue the minde immoueable , like to the lawes that be well prouided .

¶ Order thy Citee or countreie , To gouerne a citee . lyke thy house lefte by thy father , in stuffe gaie and roially decked , in occupacion busie and diligent , that thou maiest haue bothe honour and abundance of richesse .

¶ Al be it declare thy magnificence not in such sumptuous expences , that shortly doo vanishe , but onely in the thynges before expressed : that is to saie , in the adournyng or garnishyng of thy possessions , and in beneficence and liberalitee towarde thy friendes , for that , whiche is so emploied , shal remaine with the styll , and thou shalt leaue to thy children more commoditee therby , than thei shoulde haue of superfluous expences .

¶ In the honour due vnto god obserue diligently that whiche is lefte vnto thee by thy progenitours . and suppose verily , that sacrifice to be moste acceptable and seruice most thankful to god , if thou endeuour thy selfe to excell all other men in vertue and iustice . For vndoubtedly therby shalt thou opteine more reasonable peticions , than if thou dydst geue vnto hym great treasure or offrynges .

¶ Rewarde thy familiar counsailours with principall dignitees , and to them whom thou knowest beneuolent and trustie , geue perpetuall and stable promorions .

¶ Thinke that the beste and most sure garde of thy person be frendes vertuous and honest , A princes sure garde louyng and beneuolent subiectes , and thine owne wyll stable and circnmspecte : for by those thynges authoritee is opteined and lengest preserued .

¶ Haue good awaite on the householdes , and expences of thy subiectes , A princes right ouer his subiectes . thinkyng that thei dispendyng vnprofitably , dooe consume thyne owne propre treasure , and that whiche thei get by their good husbandrie augmenteth thy substance and honour : Lonsideryng that all the goodes of them that be subiectes , be at the commaundement of the prince that ruleth well and honourably .

¶ Let men perceiue the to haue alwaie truthe in suche reuerence , that to thy wordes , thei mai sooner geue credence than to other mens othes .

¶ Make thy countreie safe and sure abidyng to all them that be strangers , and in their contractes iuste and indifferent .

¶ Of suche as dooe repaire vnto thee , set more by them , that for some merite doe looke to haue some thynge of thee , than of those that do brynge presentes to thee , for honoryng men for their merites thou shalte muche more be of other commended .

¶ Take awaie feare fro thy subiectes , and be not terrible to them that haue not offended , but like as thou wouldest haue them disposed towarde the , so be thou towarde them .

¶ Dooe thou nothyng in furie , sens other men knowe what time and occasion is meetest for the.

¶ Be thou sene to haue suche wisedome and grauitee , that nothyng that is done can be hid from thee , not withstanding be thou easie and mercifull , in punisshyng offences vnder their merites .

¶ Shewe thy selfe princely , not in sturdinesse , or punisshyng cruelly , but in surmountyng all other in wisedome , that thei maie suppose that thou canst counsaile them better for their weale than thei can them selfes .

¶ Be also warlike and valiant in feates of armes and prouision for warres , but yet notwithstandyng imbrace thou peace , and do nothyng iniustly .

¶ Deale thou with inferior countreies in all entercourses and mutuall contractes , accordyng as thou woldest that thei that be to thy countreie superiours , shulde do vnto the.

¶ Striue not for euery thyng , but for that onely whiche , if thou opteinest maie be to thy profite .

¶ Blame not them that be vanquished to their commoditee , but accompte them to be fooles that do vanquishe other to their owne detriment .

¶ Suppose not them to be men of great wisedome , that doe take greatter thinges in hande than thei can ordre : but those , whiche in meane thynges dooe bringe well to passe that that thei purposed .

¶ Folowe not them that dooe opteine greattest auctoritee , but them that best vse thinges that be present .

¶ Finally do not thinke thy selfe happie , if thou rulest ouer all men terribly and in great danger , but if beyng suche as thou oughtest to be , and doyng as the time present requireth , thou desirest moderate thynges , and therof thou lackest nothyng , than arte thou happy .

¶ Get thee frendes , not all them that dooe seke frendship of the : but suche as be most agreable vnto thy nature , neither those , with whom thou shalte liue plesantly , but with whom thou maiest gouerne thy countrey most surely .

¶ Make diligent espiall and proufe of thy most familiar seruantes , remembryng that suche as be not with the so conuersant , doe suppose that thou arte like in condicions to them , whom thou vsest familiarly .

¶ Matters , wherwith thou thy selfe wilte not medel , committe to suche persons , as what so euer thei do , the blame shall be imputed chiefely vnto the.

¶ Thinke not them to be loial or faithfull , that doe preise all thyng that thou doest , but them that do blame the thing , wherin thou errest .

¶ Geue to wise men libertee to speake to thee freely : that in thynges , wherof thou doubtest , thou maiest haue them , with whom thou maiest trie out the certaintee .

¶ Discerne crafty flatterers , Crafti●… flattere●… from them that dooe serue the with true herte and beneuolence , lest the euill men receiue more profite by thee , than thei that be honest and vertuous .

¶ Here diligently what men speke mutually one of an other , and assaie to know as well what maner of persens those be that haue spoken , as also thei , of whom thei reported .

¶ Accordyngly as thou correctest offenders , False de●…actours . semblably , and with the same punishment correcte false detractours and accusers of innocentes .

¶ Haue no lasse dominion or rule ouer thy selfe , than ouer other .

¶ Thinke it moste incident vnto a kynge and most roiall , neuer to be subiecte to pleasant affections , but to rule more ouer thyne appetites than ouer thy people and subiectes .

¶ Admitte no recreation without good aduisement , but delite in suche exercise , wherby thou maist receiue some commoditee , and that other maie perceiue , that thou arte therby the better .

¶ Glory not in suche thinges , which are possible to be done by them that be vnthriftes , but reioice in vertue , wherin euill men can not participate with thee .

¶ Suppose not honour to be that , ●…ery ho●…ur . which is published abrode with feare , but verie honour to be , where men by them selfes wonder more at thy wisedome than at thy fortune .

¶ If it chance the to take any pleasure in any thynge that is not honest or vertuouse , do it verie secretly , but goyng about thinges of gret weight and importance , shew thy selfe abrode vnto al men .

¶ Require not that all other men shuld liue in good order , and princes to be in their liuyng remisse and negligent , but ordre thy temperance in liuyng , to be an example to other , consideryng that the maners of all the whole citee or contraie , do insue and resemble their princes condicions .

¶ It shall be to the a token , that thou haste well gouerned , if thou perceiue them that be vnder thy gouernance to be by thy diligence welthie and more temperate in liuyng .

¶ Set more by leauyng to thy children honest fame or renoume , Honest fame . than gret possessions or richesse . for these be transitorie , the other immortall . Also goodes maie be gotten by fame , but good fame can be bought with no money .

Also goodes happen to men that be of euill disposition , but so doth not good estimacion , but cometh onely to them that endeuour them selfe with vertue to gette it .

¶ Be delicate in thine apparaile and garmentes that serue for thy bodie , in all other partes of thy liuyng be continent as it besemeth all princes of honour , to the intent that thei that beholde the , for thine honorable presence mai deme the worthy to be a gouernour and thy familiars and seruauntes for thy noble courage may haue of the a lyke good opinion .

¶ Consider diligently both thyne owne woordes and thy dedes , to the intent thou maist fall in very fewe errours .

¶ Of all thynges it is beste to happen on the right pointe of all thynges that are to be doone , but for as muche as that is very harde to be knowen , better is to leue somewhat , than to excede .

For that , wherin somewhat doth lacke is nerer to temperance , than that wherin is to muche abundance .

¶ Endeuour the to be bothe courtaise and of a reuerende grauitee : Courtesy & grauite●… for the one besemeth a prince , the other is expedient and more agreable to euery company : all be it to vse both , it is of all other thinges the moste difficile . for thou shalte fynde for the more parte them that vse a reuerent grauitee to be vnpleasaunt , them that be courtoyse , to be of base courage and simple . Therfore the one and the other is to be vsed , but than exchue that thyng , whiche in any of them is yll or semeth inconuenient .

¶ If thou woldest perfectly know that , Experyence and philosophy . which belongeth to kynges to perceiue , geue the to experience and studie of philosophy , for philosophy shall declare vnto thee the meanes or waies howe to bringe to passe thine affaires : experience in semblable businesse shall make the able to doo or susteine them .

¶ Beholde diligently , that whiche as well princes as priuate persons do daily , and what of their actes doth succede in conclusion .

¶ Surely if thou remembre well thinges that are passed , thou shalt the better consulte of thynges comyng .

¶ Thinke where priuate persons haue died with good will , to the intent that after their death thei mought be commended , that it were great shame to princes , not to trauaile in suche studie or businesse , wherby in their liues thei mate be worthily praised .

¶ Desyre to leaue whan thou diest , rather monumentes or images of thy ver tues than of thy personage .

¶ Endeuor the specially to kepe alwai thy selfe and thy countrey in suretie .

¶ If necessitee constreigne thee to ieoparde thy person , chose rather to die with honour , than to liue in reproche .

¶ In all thyne actes remembre that thou arte a prince : and therfore do nothynge vnworthie to so high a dignitee .

¶ Set not so litle by thy nature , that thou suffre thy selfe all wholly to perish , but in as muthe as thy bodie is mortal , and thy soule immortall , assaie to leue to thy soule an immortall remembrance .

¶ Vse thee to speake of honest affaires and studies , that by suche custome thou maiest thinke on like thynges as thou spekest of .

¶ Thynges that in counsailyng seme to be beste , those execute thou in thy proper actes .

¶ At whose good renowme thou hast most enuie , his dedes do thou folow .

¶ Looke what thou counsailest thy children or seruantes to doe , thinke it conuenient that thy selfe do the same .

¶ Either vse that whiche I haue aduised the to do , or enquyre for better than that is .

¶ Suppose not them to be wise men , that sharpely can talke of small thinges and trifles , but those that can substancially reason in matters of weighty importance .

¶ Nor thinke not them wise , that promisse to other men welthe and good fortune , thei them selfe beyng in great necessitee , but rather those that speakyng of them selfes moderately , can with other men and in their affaires vse them selfe well and discretely and beyng not troubled with any change of their liuing , knowe howe to beare honestly and temperately as well aduersitee as also prosperitee .

¶ And meruaile thou not , that I haue now rehersed many thynges that thou knewest before , nor that forgatte I not , but knewe well enough , that beyng suche a multitude as well of princes as of priuate persons , some of them haue spoken the same that I did , and many haue hearde it , and diuers haue seen other men done it , and some there be that by them selfes haue experienced it . Not withstanding in mater concernyng Instruction , noueltie is not to be sought for , for therin ought not to be founden either singuler opinion , or thynge impossible , or contrarie to mens coniecture : but suppose that to be in heryng moste gracious or pleasant , whiche beyng sowen in the mindes of other , maie assemble moste matter to the purpose , and the same declare beste and moste aptely . For this knowe I well , that the counsailes and wise sentences of poetes and other good authours , are thought of all men to be very profitable : yet will not thei very gladly geue eare vnto them , but be therwith in the same case , as thei be with those that doe geue them good counsaile , for thei praise them all , but thei care not howe seldome thei come in their compani , desiryng to be rather with offendours , than with them that of sinne be the rebukars . Example we maie take of the poemes or workes of Hesiodus , Theognes , and phorillides . For euery man affirmeth them to be excellent counsailes concernyng mans lyfe , but all though thei saie so , yet had thei leuer vse that , wherto their owne madnesse indureth them , than folow that wherto the others preceptes doeth aduise them . Moreouer if one shulde gader out of the saide authours that whiche men call centences , wherin thei perchance haue ben studiouse : in semblable wise toward them shuld thei be disposed , for thei shuld with more pleasure here a liyng fable or a fantafie , than the saide preceptes made by much connyng and diligence . But what nedeth it to tarie longe vpon euery mater ? Generally if we will consider the natures of men , we shall perceiue , that many of them delite neither in meates that bene most holsome , nor in studies that ben most honest , nor in dedes that be moste conuenient : nor yet in doctrine that is most commodious , but imbracing plesant appetites , which be repugnant to prolite , wolde seme to be painfull and laboriouse , although thei doo nothyng expedient , or necessarie .

Howe maie any man content any suche persons , either by prechyng or teaching or tellyng of any thynge that is profitable : that for the wordes that be spoken , do enuie and haue indignacion at them that speake truly , and doe take them for plaine men or simple , in whom lacketh wisedome ? so muche they abhorre trouthe in all thynges , that thei knowe not what is theirs or do belonge to their office , but consultyng or reasonyng of that whiche dothe perteine vnto them , thei be sadde and vnpleasant , whan thei talke of other mens affaires thei be merie and ioyouse . Moreouer thei had leauer suffer some grefe in their bodies , than in reuoluyng what shuld be moste necessarie , trauaile any thynge in their mindes . And if a man take good hede he shall fynde in theyr mutuall assembles and companies , that either thei reproue other men , or els that thei of other be in some thynge reproued . And whan thei be by themselfes , thei be euer wisshing and neuer consultyng . I haue not spoken this againe all men but only againe them that be giltie in that , whiche I haue rehersed . Finally this is apparant and certaine , who so euer wyll make or write any thynge pleasant and thankfull to the multitude , he maie not seke for woordes or matters most profitable , but for them that conteine most fables and leasynges . For in bearyng suche thynges thei reioyce : but whan thei perceiue to be labours and contencions in their affaires , than be they pensife . Wherfore Homere and they that founde firste tragedies , mai bee well meruailed at , who in their workes vsed bothe the saide fourmes in writynge , for Homere expressed in his workes the contencions and batailes of them , whiche for their vertues , were named halfe goddes , the other brought those fables into actuall apparaunce .

In so muche as we not onely maie here them , but also maie presently beholde them , by suche example is it declared to them that bee studiouse to please their herers , that thei must abstaine from exhortyng and counsailyng them , and that thei apply them to write and speake that onely , wherin thei perceiue the mnl titnde to haue moste delectacion .

This before written haue I declared , thinkyng that it besemeth not the that art not one of the people , to be of lyke opinion with the multtitude , or to iudge thynges to be honest , or men to be plesant , according to thy sensuall appetite , but to trie and esteme them by their good and profitable actes .

Moreouer for as muche as they that labour in the studie of Ppilosophy , concernyng the exercise of the myndes , be of sondrie opinions , some saiyng that men become wiser by muche disputyng and reasonyng , other affirme that it hapneth by exercise in polityke gouernance , or ciuill causes , diuers suppose it to come of other doctrines : but finally thei all doe confesse , that he whiche is well brought vp , may by euery of the saide studies gather mater sufficient to geue good counsaile .

Therfore he that wyll leaue the doubtfull opinions , and wyll applie to that whiche is certaine , he muste examine the reasons therof , and sperially they that be counsailours ought to haue consideration of the occasion , time and oportunitee , if thei can not bringe that to passe , than to reiecte and put awaie as well them whiche speke in all matters generally , as also those that perceiue nothyng that is expedient or necessarie , for it is aparant , and certaine , that he whiche can not be to him selfe profitable , he shall in other mens businesse do nothynge wisely .

Make muche of them that be wise , and do perceiue more than other men , and haue good regarde towarde them : remembryng that a good counsailour , A good counsailour . is of all other treasure the most roiall and profitable , and thinke verily that they whiche can most aide and profite to thy witte or reason , shall make thy kyngedome moste ample and honorable .

Wherfore for my parte as muche as I ran , I haue exhorted the , and honored the with suche presentes as be in my power to geue the. And desyre thou not , that other men shulde bringe vnto the ( as I saide at the beginnyng , their accustomed presentes , which ye shuld bie muche derer of the giuers , than of the sellers : but couaite thou suche presentes , whiche if thou do vse well and diligenly omittyng no tyme , thou not onely shalt not consume them , but thou shalte also encrease them , and make them of more estimacion and value .

Finis .