sudden by a violence they themselves offer to their reason; and marching
on towards their own greatness by unusual waies, they seem horrid and
uneasie, as not being trodden or known by other people.
Others there are that alledge, amongst other reasons, why the _Pope’s_
Family are so transitory, their inexperience in the Art of Managery which
is necessary for preserving an Estate, their wealth raining down upon
them without any sweat or trouble, or contrivance of their own. Like
Hebrews that despis’d the Manna sent them from Heaven, they not only
neglect to preserve with any prudence and Oeconomy the great quantity of
Riches, which is shower’d down into their Chests by the _Capricio_ of
fortune; but even nauseate and abhor that, which they believe unsutable
to their Nature.
If a Country-man by accident should light upon a parcel of _Rubies_, at
first sight he would be much delighted with their Lustre; but upon second
thoughts they would but trouble and perplex him, because he knew not the
value of a thing he had gain’d without labour.
But what shall I say? There is not any thing more dangerous, and which
brings the life of man under more hazards, than the filling the belly too
full: To eat intemperately, to swallow without measure, and to devour
with eagerness and rapacity, must of necessity destroy Nature, and be the
ruine of the whole: Sobriety is that which conduceth most to our health,
because it gives the Stomach time to distribute the meat proportionably
to the whole body.
The _Pope’s_ Nephews know not how to keep their Riches, because they
touch them with their hands, but do not see them with their eyes, their
greediness of heaping up on a sudden blinding them, and not suffering
them to know the true worth of them: by which means they dwindle
insensibly, and they themselves are not able to perceive it.
That which is gotten without pains, is in a short time lost without
knowing the price of it: The greatest part of these Gamesters are either
such as are loose and licentious young men, or else such as have had some
good provision from fortune. The first adventure, because they have not
yet found a way to live handsomly; the other, because they believe
Fortune oblig’d to recruit them. The poor Trades-man, that sweats, and
carks, and toils night and day, and all to get one poor Crown, will not
certainly be so foolish to venture that in one moment, he gain’d with so
much labour in so many hours. He does well, that keeps that he gain’d
with difficulty: and he does well, who spends that he came by easily.
Were the Nephews of the _Pope_ content with what Emoluments were justly
their due, without doubt the greatness and opulence of their Families
would be much longer liv’d: But they fill, devour, and cram up their
Stomach with more meat than Nature will sustain; and therefore ’tis no
wonder, if they be often forc’d to vomit that up with violence they had
so immoderately devour’d.
Many have observed also, most of the _Pope’s_ Kindred have died young
too; and I could instance in a thousand examples: But for two reasons I
forbear; one is, not to grate too much upon the Nephews of our good _Pope
Alexander_, nor have the long life of _Don Mario_ cast in my dish, though
indeed it is not above ten years since he had any relation to the _Pope_;
the other is, because I have something else to think on.
THE SUCCESSION OF THE POPES
Mentioned in this BOOK.
_Sixtus_ IV. began his Papacy, 1471
_Anno_
_Innocent_ VIII. 1484
_Alexander_ VI. 1492
_Pius_ III. 1503
_Julius_ II. 1504
_Leo_ X. 1514
_Adrian_ VI. 1522
_Clement_ VII. 1524
_Paul_ III. 1534
_Julius_ III. 1550
_Marcellus_ II. 1557
_Paul_ IV. 1558
_Pius_ IV. 1562
_Pius_ V. 1568
_Gregory_ XIII. 1574
_Sixtus_ V. 1587
_Urban_ VII. 1592
_Gregory_ XIIII. 1593
_Innocent_ IX. 1594
_Clement_ VIII. 1596
_Leo_ XI. 1607
_Paul_ V. 1607
_Gregory_ XV. 1623
_Urban_ VIII. 1625
_Innocent_ X. 1644
_Alexander_ VII. 1655
* * * * *
* * * * *
FINIS.
* * * * *