Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/102

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
78
OF FRENDSHIP
[essay xxvii

Politique that ever reigned, Who have oftentimes ioyned to themselves some of their Servants, Whom both Themselves have called Frends, And allowed Others likewise to call them in the same manner, Using the Word which is received between Private Men.

L. Sylla, when he commanded Rome, raised Pompey (after surnamed the Great) to that Heigth[1], that Pompey vaunted Himselfe for Sylla's Overmatch. For when he had carried the Consulship for a Frend of his, against the pursuit[2] of Sylla, and that[3] Sylla did a little resent thereat, and began to speake great, Pompey turned upon him againe, and in effect[4] bad him be quiet; For that more Men adored the Sunne Rising then the Sunne setting. With Julius Cæsar, Decimus Brutus had obtained that Interest as[5] he set him downe, in his Testament, for Heire in Remainder, after his Nephew. And this was the Man that had power with him to draw him forth to his death. For when Cæsar would have discharged the Senate, in regard of some ill Presages, and specially a Dreame of Calpurnia, This Man lifted him gently by the Arme out of his Chaire, telling him he hoped he would not dismisse the Senate till his wife had dreamt a better Dreame. And it seemeth his favour was so great as[6] Antonius, in a Letter which is recited Verbatìm in one of Cicero's Philippiques, calleth him Venefica,—Witch; As if he had enchanted Cæsar. Augustus raised Agrippa (though of meane Birth) to that Heighth as[7], when he consulted with Maecenas about the Marriage of his Daughter Iulia, Mæcenas tooke the Liberty to tell him, That he must either marry his Daughter to Agrippa, or take away his life; there was no third way, he had made him so great. With Tiberius Cæsar, Seianus had ascended to that Height as[7] they Two were tearmed and reckoned as a Paire of Frends. Tiberius in a Letter to him saith; Hæc pro Amicitiâ nostra non occultavi:[8] And the whole Senate dedicated an Altar to Frendship, as to a


  1. to such a height
  2. canvassing
  3. when
  4. in fact
  5. such influence that
  6. so great that
  7. 7.0 7.1 to such a height that
  8. By reason of our friendship I have not concealed these matters.