inks fit were granted, we should have
another chaos in an instant, a mere confusion. It is some satisfaction to
him that is repelled, that dignities, honours, offices, are not always
given by desert or worth, but for love, affinity, friendship, affection,
[3952]great men's letters, or as commonly they are bought and sold.
[3953]"Honours in court are bestowed not according to men's virtues and
good conditions" (as an old courtier observes), "but as every man hath
means, or more potent friends, so he is preferred." With us in France
([3954]for so their own countryman relates) "most part the matter is
carried by favour and grace; he that can get a great man to be his
mediator, runs away with all the preferment." _Indignissimus plerumque
praefertur, Vatinius Catoni, illaudatus laudatissimo_;

[3955] ------"servi dominantur; aselli
Ornantur phaleris, dephalerantur equi."

An illiterate fool sits in a man's seat, and the common people hold him
learned, grave and wise. "One professeth" ([3956]Cardan well notes) "for a
thousand crowns, but he deserves not ten, when as he that deserves a
thousand cannot get ten." _Solarium non dat multis salem._ As good horses
draw in carts, as coaches. And oftentimes, which Machiavel seconds, [3957]
_Principes non sunt qui ob insignem virtutem principatu digni sunt_, he
that is most worthy wants employment; he that hath skill to be a pilot
wants a ship, and he that could govern a commonwealth, a world itself, a
king in conceit, wants means to exercise his worth, hath not a poor office
to manage, and yet all this while he is a better man that is fit to reign,
_etsi careat regno_, though he want a kingdom, [3958]"than he that hath
one, and knows not how to rule it:" a lion serves not always his keeper,
but oftentimes the keeper the lion, and as [3959]Polydore Virgil hath it,
_multi reges ut pupilli ob inscitiam non regunt sed reguntur_. Hieron of
Syracuse was a brave king, but wanted a kingdom; Perseus of Macedon had
nothing of a king, but the bare name and title, for he could not govern it:
so great places are often ill bestowed, worthy persons unrespected. Many
times, too, the servants have more means than the masters whom they serve,
which [3960]Epictetus counts an eyesore and inconvenient. But who can help
it? It is an ordinary thing in these days to see a base impudent ass,
illiterate, unworthy, insufficient, to be preferred before his betters,
because he can put himself forward, be