XXXV. The dealers in false pretences, and the men of cunning, compose
the vulgar of a court, and are the most numerous part of population in
the political world; but they who act upon these principles, follow a
very dangerous tract, although it is the most beaten. Their deceptions
are so manifold, that notwithstanding art and fortune should conspire
to hide them, it is next to impossible that some will not appear. A
fabric built on false ground, without the wind overturning it, will
fall of itself. When a lying genius is once found out, the least
inconvenience consequent on the discovery is, his never being believed
any more. Tiberius, on account of his having been so often detected
in falsehoods, was not credited, even when he spoke the truth: _Vero
quoque, & honesto fidem demissit_, says Tacitus.
XXXV. Not only lies detected are unfortunate, but they are likewise
sometimes so, on account of their being thought true; for in this
case, they produce an effect, quite opposite to the purpose they were
intended to answer. Nero wanted to murder his mother Agrippina in such
a manner, that her death should appear accidental, and not design’d.
For this purpose, he caused a ship in which Agrippina was to embark,
to be constructed so artfully, that the part where his mother was
to be lodged, could be easily separated from the other, and let the
unfortunate Princess drop into the Sea. The purpose was not answered,
because the part did not separate as was intended, but only open’d, so
as to cause great dread of shipwreck in those of the party. Aceronia,
a lady who attended Agrippina, when the alarm happened, ran out and
called aloud for assistance, saying, she was Agrippina, the mother of
the Emperor. The darkness of the night favoured the deceit, and those
who knew Nero’s intention, believing she was Agrippina, came quickly
to her; not with a design to assist, but to demolish the unfortunate
Aceronia, which they did, upon a supposition that they were doing an
agreeable piece of service to Nero.
XXXVI. Lying, is proper and natural to base and ambitious people, who
by mixing flattery with their lies, become vile and contemptible to
the last degree; and their doing this, makes them the slaves of all
mankind. They submit to every one, and humble themselves to every one,
and treat all the world as their masters; some because they should do
them service, and others because they should not injure them; like
the savages of Virginia, who not only worship the stars because they
give them light, and promote fertility, but they worship all they fear
likewise; not only the devil whom they most dread, but also fire,
clouds, horses, and great guns are venerated as deities by them. They
have work enough upon their hands who serve so many masters, for over
and above the labour which liars find in obeying such a number of
directors, they are alarm’d and fatigu’d with the risques they run, for
their practices of deceiving being once discover’d, all mankind abhor
them.