COSTLY followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his train
longer, he make his wings shorter. I reckon to be costly, not them alone
which charge the purse, but which are wearisome, and importune in
suits. Ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher conditions,
than countenance, recommendation, and protection from wrongs. Factious
followers are worse to be liked, which follow not upon affection to
him, with whom they range themselves, but upon discontentment conceived
against some other; whereupon commonly ensueth that ill intelligence,
that we many times see between great personages. Likewise glorious
followers, who make themselves as trumpets of the commendation of those
they follow, are full of inconvenience; for they taint business through
want of secrecy; and they export honor from a man, and make him a return
in envy. There is a kind of followers likewise, which are dangerous,
being indeed espials; which inquire the secrets of the house, and bear
tales of them, to others. Yet such men, many times, are in great favor;
for they are officious, and commonly exchange tales. The following by
certain estates of men, answerable to that, which a great person himself
professeth (as of soldiers, to him that hath been employed in the wars,
and the like), hath ever been a thing civil, and well taken, even in
monarchies; so it be without too much pomp or popularity. But the most
honorable kind of following, is to be followed as one, that apprehendeth
to advance virtue, and desert, in all sorts of persons. And yet, where
there is no eminent odds in sufficiency, it is better to take with the
more passable, than with the more able. And besides, to speak truth, in
base times, active men are of more use than virtuous. It is true that
in government, it is good to use men of one rank equally: for to
countenance some extraordinarily, is to make them insolent, and the rest
discontent; because they may claim a due. But contrariwise, in favor,
to use men with much difference and election is good; for it maketh the
persons preferred more thankful, and the rest more officious: because
all is of favor. It is good discretion, not to make too much of any
man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion. To be
governed (as we call it) by one is not safe; for it shows softness, and
gives a freedom, to scandal and disreputation; for those, that would
not censure or speak ill of a man immediately, will talk more boldly of
those that are so great with them, and thereby wound their honor. Yet
to be distracted with many is worse; for it makes men to be of the last
impression, and full of change. To take advice of some few friends, is
ever honorable; for lookers-on many times see more than gamesters; and
the vale best discovereth the hill. There is little friendship in the
world, and least of all between equals, which was wont to be magnified.
That that is, is between superior and inferior, whose fortunes may
comprehend the one the other.