Nay, I have sometimes gone away many inches fatter,
to see them speak big words; while each of the ladies believes herself so much
nearer to the gods
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Erasmus: Praise of Folly and Other Writings: Critical
Commentary
The Erasmus Reader
Discourse on Free Will: Erasmus, Erasmus-Luther,
Martin Luther
PRINCES
And now I have a mind to give
some small touches of princes and courts, of whom I am had in reverence, aboveboard and, as
it becomes gentlemen, frankly. And truly, if they had the least
proportion of sound judgment, what life were more unpleasant than
theirs, or so much to be avoided? For whoever did but truly weigh
with himself how great a burden lies upon his shoulders that would
truly discharge the duty of a prince, he would not think it worth his
while to make his way to a crown by perjury and parricide.
He would consider that he that
takes a scepter in his hand should manage the public, not his private, interest; study nothing but the common
good; and not in the least go contrary to those laws whereof himself
is both the author and exactor: that he is to take an account of the
good or evil administration of all his magistrates and subordinate
officers; that, though he is but one, all men's eyes are upon him,
and in his power it is, either like a good planet to give life and
safety to mankind by his harmless influence, or like a fatal comet to
send mischief and destruction; that the vices of other men are not
alike felt, nor so generally communicated;
and that a prince
stands in that place that his least deviation from the rule of
honesty and honor reaches farther than himself and opens a gap to
many men's ruin.
Besides, that the fortune of
princes has many things attending it that are but too apt to train them out of the way, as pleasure, liberty,
flattery, excess; for which cause he should the more diligently
endeavor and set a watch over himself, lest perhaps he be led aside
and fail in his duty.
Lastly, to say nothing of
treasons, ill will, and such other mischiefs he's in jeopardy of,
that that True
King is over his head,
who in a short time
will call him to account for every the least trespass, and that so
much the more severely by how much more mighty was the empire
committed to his charge. These and the like if a prince should duly
weigh, and weigh it he would
if he were wise, he
would neither be able to sleep nor take any hearty repast.
But now by my courtesy they
leave all this care to the gods and are only taken up with themselves,
not admitting
anyone to their ear but such as know how to speak pleasant things and
not trouble them with business.
They believe they have
discharged all the duty of a prince if they hunt every day, keep a
stable of fine horses, sell dignities and commanderies,
and invent new ways
of draining the citizens' purses and bringing it into their own
exchequer;
but under such dainty new-found
names that though the thing be most unjust in itself, it carries yet
some face of equity; adding to this some little sweetening that whatever happens, they may be
secure of the common people.
And now suppose someone, such
as they sometimes are, a man ignorant of laws, little less than an
enemy to the public good, and minding nothing but his own,
given up to
pleasure, a
hater of
learning, liberty, and
justice, studying nothing less than the public safety, but measuring
everything by his own will and profit;
and then put on him a golden
chain that declares the accord of all virtues linked one to another;
a crown set with diamonds, that should put him in mind how he ought
to excel all others in heroic virtues; besides a scepter, the emblem
of justice and an untainted heart; and lastly, a purple robe, a badge
of that charity he owes the commonwealth.
All which if a prince should
compare them with his own life, he would, I believe, be clearly
ashamed of his bravery, and be afraid lest some or other gibing
expounder turn all this tragical furniture into a ridiculous
laughingstock.
And as to the court lords, what should I mention them? than most of whom
though there be nothing more indebted, more servile, more witless,
more contemptible, yet they would seem as they were the most
excellent of all others. And yet in this only thing no men more
modest, in that they are contented to wear about them gold, jewels,
purple, and those other marks of virtue and wisdom;
but for the study
of the things themselves, they remit it to others,
thinking it
happiness enough for them that they can call the king master,
have learned the
cringe a la
mode, know when and
where to use those titles of Your Grace, My Lord, Your Magnificence;
in a word that they are past all shame and can flatter pleasantly.
For these are the
arts that speak a man truly noble and an exact courtier.
But if you look into their
manner of life you'll find them mere sots, as debauched as Penelope's
wooers; you know the other part of the verse, which the echo will
better tell you than I can.
They sleep till
noon and have their mercenary Levite come to their bedside, where he chops over his
matins before they are half up. Then to breakfast, which is scarce
done but dinner stays for them.
From thence they go to dice,
tables, cards, or entertain themselves with jesters, fools, gambols,
and horse tricks. In the meantime they have one or two beverages, and
then supper, and after that a banquet, and 'twere well, by Jupiter,
there were no more than one. And in this manner do their hours, days,
months, years, age slide away without the least irksomeness.
Nay, I have
sometimes gone away many inches fatter, to see them speak big words;
while each of the ladies
believes herself so much nearer to the gods by how much the longer train she trails
after her; while one nobleman edges out another, that he may get the
nearer to Jupiter himself; and everyone of them pleases himself the
more by how much more massive is the chain he swags on his shoulders,
as if he meant to show his strength as well as his wealth.
- Erasmus on the Professional Clergy
- Erasmus on the Preaching Monks
- Erasmus on the Princes
- Erasmus on the Pope
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