This is a Reproof to the Pride and Vanity of Those Men, that when
they come to be Advanc’d Themselves, forget all their Old Friends and
Acquaintance, even Those that Rais’d them. This Fable is Humane Nature to
the very Quick, only it has Two Handles to’t, and it would not be Fair,
to take it in the Worst Sense, without somewhat of an Apology, or an
Excuse for’t, where ’twill bear a Better.
It is almost as True in Philosophy as it is in Fact, and Common
Practice, that _Honours Change Manners_. Men Assume other Thoughts;
Other Opinions of Themselves; Nay, and almost Another Nature, when they
Contract other Interests. The Stamp of Dignity Defaces, in some People
the very Character of Humanity; and Transports them to such a Degree of
Haughtiness, that they reckon it below the Quality of a Great Man, to
Exercise either Good Nature, or Good Manners: As if Dignify’d Flesh and
Bloud were not of the same Composition with other Men. Now what does
all This Arrogance Amount to, more, then the Pride of an Ass in his
Trappings; when ’tis but his Masters taking away his Top-Knot, to make an
Ass of him again.
But we are yet to Distinguish betwixt Those that take State and Distance
upon them, purely out of Pride and Humour, and Those that seem to do the
same Thing, though in a Compliance with the Necessity of their Affairs.
It is Impossible for a Publique Minister to be so Open and Easy to all
his Old Friends and Acquaintance, as he was in the State of his Private
Condition; and at the same Time, to Attend the Necessary Functions of his
Office: But This may be All help’d out yet, by an Affability of Address,
without any Offence, either to his Bus’ness, or to his Duty. A Word, an
Action, a Countenance, manag’d with Honour and Discretion, is sufficient
to Uphold the Reputation of his Character; for there are Artificial
Ways of telling People what a Man would do if he Could, without a Surly
Ostentation of an Unwillingness to do the Things, that Effectually are
not in his Power. A _Good Word_, they say, _Costs no more then a Bad_:
Beside that in the _Cardinal_’s Forgetting his _Old Friend_ here, he did
more Forget Himself.