The Modern Statesman, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Of Probity, and the practice of it among the Romans.
THe external object, as it relates to the Perſons towards whom vertue bends its eie, delivers it Janus-like, looking forward by Piety upon God, backward by Probity upon man, providing a well-being both for Soul and body, and directing us for the benefit of our ſelves and others.
Of the firſt, Piety, we have aready ſpoken, the other, Probity, is therefore that which remains for the ſubject of our perſent diſcourſe, and this meets us well accompanyed, noblie followed, as having all thoſe vertues in her train, which are neceſſary to enable us in performing our duties as we ſtand in all relations. For its denomination, we find it termed by the Greeks foreign, and by the Latines Honestas, from honos honour; ſo ingenuouſly provident were the Antients that it might not be ſo much as mentioned without its due, honour. And indeed it is the very abſtract of the other vertues; it is the ci…cle from whence thoſe noble lines are drawn, and the center in which they meet; it is the ſalt that ſeaſons them, and the ſoul that informs them, that beſtowes their glorious being. Without this, Prudence would be but cunning. Juſtice, in execution, but a more ſpecious and reſerved kind of revenge; in diſtribution, but a keeping of credit to maintain our trade; in rewarding, but a bribery to gain affection, and encreaſe our dependancies. Fortitude, but a brutiſh audacity, and daring raſhneſs to render our ſelves terrible, and gain Domination. Temperance, but a kind of ſenſleſnes and ſtupidity, a Stoical piece of tyranny over our bodies.
Hence grew its eſteem among the Moralists, which generally make the other vertues ſpring from the pregnant womb of Probitie; and hence came it to be honored among the Romans, which they beheld bleſſed with ſo glorious and numerous a progeny, attended by ſo beautifull a company of Daughters.
This was it ſet Numa on the Throne, and made them with one conſent call him from a private Country life to govern Rome, paſſing by the moſt noble among both Romans and Sabines. It was this fetched Serranus from the Plough, and adorned him with the abſolute & uncontrollable power of Dictator. This encouraged them to elect Cato to be Cenſor, and paſs by the nobleſt Competitors, when inſtead of courting the people, he ſeemed to threaten them, proclaming, that by chooſing him and Valerius Flaccus, whom they alſo made his Collegue, the City might be purged of its new corruptions, and antient probity of manners reſtored. This made Fabritius, when the Phyſician sent him word, that if he pleaſed he would poiſon Pyrrhus, return the Letter to Pyrrhus with this exprobration, That he was moſt unfortunate in his choice of friends, as well as enemies; which when Pyrrhus had received, and hanging his Phyſician, returned the Roman Captives without ranſom, Fabritius ſent as many captives of his with this admonition, that he diſcovered the Treaſon not for any favour or reſpect he bore to him, but to let him know that the Romans abhorred by treachery to deſtroy their enemies. Pyrrhus had then invaded Italy, had overthrown the Conſul Laevinus, and was grown numerous by the revolt of many of the people of Italy who lackied to his Fortune; his Phyſician unſought to, even of his own accord, offers to rid them of this danger, yet ſo great was their love to honeſty, they choſe to undergo any hazard, rather than to connive at a diſhoneſt act, or in the leaſt to bear with it though in a Stranger.
Behold O Matchivilian, this is that which truly eſtabliſhes a State, when thy unworthy policies, though they may be proſperous for a while, are never long-lived, and thy rotten props will in the cloſe fail thee, and bury thee in the ruins of that thou buildeſt upon them. Produce me an example, where although Proſperity might lead the Van, reproach and ruine did not bring up the Rear? where thy villanies flouriſhing for a day, were not froſt-nipt at night? where though they might bud in the morning, and blow at noon, they were not blaſted in the evening, and their purple changed into ſables, their roſie-tinctured mantles into nights black livery, double dy'd in Infamy and Horror? whereas vertuous Honesty renders States and Perſons ſtable like it ſelf, whoſe glorious edifices in the rougheſt and moſt boyſterous ſtorms ſtand unſhaken like their foundation: yea and alwaies cloathes them with the tryumphant roabs of ſucceſs, who in its armour of proof have combated their Foes. This was it ſet Rome aloft in ſpight of all oppoſition, and raiſed her on her feet, when ready to be trampled on by her fierceſt foes. This was it upheld her courage in the midſt of the greateſt loſſes, and made her enemies tremble in the height of their victories, as accounting her invincible in her vertue, which would make all force ſtoop and vaile bonnet in the end. Thus may we ſee Pyrrhus even reeking with a bloody victory, diſpatch away his Ambaſſadour, and ſtretch out his victorious arms to implore a peace, whileſt the beaten Roman diſdains to treat, and can hardly be brought to give any terms to the Conqueror▪ rejecting his profered Friendſhip, as much as his Gold and bribes. For his Ambaſſadour could not faſten the leaſt gift on any private perſon, nor obtain any other anſwer from the Senate, than a command to leave Italy, and that the Conſul was comming, and in the head of the Roman Legions ſhould deliver their Terms. This made Fabritius contemn his profered Gold, deride his ſtratagem of the Elephant, which was ſuddenly brought upon him to try if they could terrifie him; refuſe his profer of being next the King▪ if he would continue with him; and return this brief anſwer, I am no more moved at your Beaſt, than I was with your Gold, and for me to live with thee would be perillous, O King, for ſhould thy Subjects once come to know me, they would chooſe rather to ſerve me than thee; account Fabritius more worthy of the Throne, than Pyrrhus. This was it carried Cato the elder through the greateſt oppoſitions of the Roman Nobility, and ſet him above the reach of their envy and malice: this gave him the Suffrages from all his Competitors, the antient and nobleſt Roman bloud backt with all its factions and dependancies being unable to ſtand in competition with a Plebeian Probitie, or the whole Patrician Order to put ſtop to his being choſen Cenſor, yea and whom he pleaſed to be joined with him. This was it, not affection or money, yea that in deſpight of Favour and Bribery brought him off in all his accuſations; ſo that he never was once condemned though fifty times impeached, but in every action had the day; yea this gave him the confidence to demand his greateſt adverſary to be Judge at his laſt tryal, who alſo gave ſentence for him. So potent is Honeſty, that Malice it ſelf cannot but yield, and either openly acknowledge, or tacitly confeſs, that her rougheſt and beſt-edg'd files can't touch it. Who would not then imbrace this ſo potent, and excellen vertue? which even wreſts Encomiums out of the mouths of enemies: which could make Pyrrhus with admiration cry out, That it was eaſier to turn the Sun from its courſe, than Fabritius from his integrity. And his Ambaſſadour Cyneas return this anſwer, when aſkt what he though of Rome. That it was a City of Kings, and a Senate of Gods; Every private perſon vertuouſly commanding his affections, and the Magiſtrates divinely influential for the publike honor and ſafety.
And now comming to handle the particular vertues, we ſhall follow Cicero l. 1. offic. in his diviſion of them into Prudence, Justice, Portitude, and Temperance, under which all neceſſary honeſt actions may be reduced; and theſe are commonly called the Cardinal vertues. Prudence that directs our reaſon, the other govern our appetites, as Fortitude and Temperance in adverſe and proſperous affairs concerning our ſelves, Justice in that which pertains to others.