Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/285

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

avoid, and what they should pursue. Good and learned Men which may profit the Commonwealth, he highly esteems; with these he is conversant, and, laying aside his Majesty, treats them as Friends and Equals; yea, he emulates their Virtues without Respect, whether they are Paternal and Hereditary, or acquired by their own Industry. With these, he spends the little Time he can spare from public Business: These are the Persons highly esteem'd by him, as judging it a public Benefit to restore due Honour to Vertue. He himself being curious by Nature, and desirous to know something worthy of a Man, has always some Questions to propose to the Learned; and sometimes he brings in some smart and genteel Repartees of his own, to the Admiration of his Hearers. Thus he hath laid in so considerable a Stock of Learning, that you cannot question him in any Thing, but he can give you some Account of it. He understands many Languages; first, the Spanish, which is his Mother-Tongue; next the French, German, Latin, and Italian: He can express his Meaning pretty well in the Latin, yet not so exactly, but that sometimes he breaks Priscian's Head; a Fault blame-*worthy in a Gramarian, but excusable in an Emperor.

What I have said of him, all Men living know to be true; but, perhaps, some may think it a Defect, that he is not enough given to Arms, and Atchievements worthy of the Laurel: For, say they, the Turks carry all in Hungary, and we do not help nor relieve them, as we ought; we should have join'd Armies in the Field, that it might be known whom Providence would have to bear Rule. I confess this Objection savours of Bravery, more than of Prudence, and therefore, let me trace the Matter a little higher. I am of his Opinion, That